PRAIRIE VIEW, TX – Alcorn State men's basketball earned its first road victory of the season and improved to 3-2 in SWAC play with a hard-fought 78-70 win over Prairie View A&M on Saturday afternoon at the William J. Nicks Building.
The Braves showcased balanced scoring, with Jalyke Gaines-Wyatt leading the way with 17 points and four assists, including clutch free throws down the stretch.
Marcus Tankersley contributed 14 points, going 4-for-6 from the free-throw line, and
Djahi Binet dominated the glass with a game-high 17 rebounds to go along with 13 points. Alcorn's strong team effort on both ends of the floor proved decisive in securing the win.
GAME RECAP
First Half – Alcorn 41, Prairie View 31
- Alcorn got off to a fast start, with Keionte Cornelius hitting back-to-back three-pointers to establish an early lead.
- Djahi Binet was a force inside, pulling down 11 rebounds in the half and adding six points.
- Prairie View's Jordan Tillmon kept the Panthers within striking distance with 12 first-half points, but Alcorn's 48.4% shooting helped the Braves build a double-digit lead.
Second Half – Alcorn 78, Prairie View 70
- Prairie View opened the second half on a 10-4 run to cut into Alcorn's lead, but the Braves responded with key baskets from Tankersley and Gaines-Wyatt.
- Cornelius hit a crucial three-pointer at the 8-minute mark to push the lead back to double digits.
- Alcorn's defense forced 15 turnovers and converted them into 24 points, including fast-break layups by Gaines-Wyatt and Tankersley in the final minutes to seal the win.
BY THE NUMBERS
- 17 – Jalyke Gaines-Wyatt led Alcorn with 17 points and went 7-for-8 from the free-throw line.
- 17 – Djahi Binet dominated the glass with a game-high 17 rebounds and added 13 points for a double-double.
- 53.2% – The Braves shot an impressive 53.2% from the field, including 62.5% in the second half.
- 24 – Alcorn scored 24 points off turnovers, taking advantage of Prairie View's miscues.
UP NEXT
The Braves (3-15, 3-2 SWAC) will look to build on this momentum as they return home to take on Florida A&M on Saturday, January 25. Tip-off is set for 3 p.m. CST.
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