ITTA BENA, MS – Alcorn State men's basketball picked up a crucial conference road victory on Thursday evening, defeating Mississippi Valley State 72-64 at the Harrison HPER Complex. The Braves (10-19, 10-7 SWAC) overcame a slow start and used a dominant second-half performance to secure their tenth conference win of the season.
Djahi Binet delivered a standout performance, leading all scorers with 21 points while adding 10 rebounds for a double-double.
Marcus Tankersley,
Julian Lual, and
Michael Pajeaud each chipped in 12 points, with Lual also grabbing 10 boards to post a double-double of his own.
Davian Williams provided a key spark, finishing with 11 points, five assists, and two steals. Alcorn shot an impressive 60% in the second half and dominated inside, scoring 48 points in the paint.
Mississippi Valley State (3-27, 1-16 SWAC) controlled much of the first half, leading by five at halftime, but Alcorn surged back in the second, outscoring the Delta Devils 45-32 after the break. The Braves took the lead for good with under 10 minutes remaining and never looked back.
GAME RECAP
First Half – Mississippi Valley State 32, Alcorn 27
- The Braves opened the game with a quick basket from Binet but struggled to find a consistent offensive rhythm.
- Mississippi Valley State capitalized on Alcorn's early turnovers, building a 14-7 lead five minutes into the game.
- Williams knocked down Alcorn's only three-pointer of the half, cutting the deficit to 22-19 with four minutes left.
- The Delta Devils closed the half strong, taking a five-point advantage into the locker room.
Second Half – Alcorn 72, Mississippi Valley State 64
- The Braves came out firing in the second half, opening on an 8-2 run to take a 35-34 lead.
- Lual and Binet dominated the paint, combining for 14 second-half points.
- Alcorn took control midway through the half, using an 11-4 run to build a seven-point lead.
- The Braves' defense tightened up, holding Mississippi Valley State to 47.6% shooting in the final period.
- Clutch free throws from Pajeaud in the final seconds sealed the win.
BY THE NUMBERS
- 21 & 10 – Djahi Binet led the way with 21 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double.
- 12 & 10 – Julian Lual also recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
- 48 – Alcorn dominated inside, scoring 48 points in the paint.
- 60% – The Braves shot an impressive 60% in the second half to fuel the comeback.
- 19 – Alcorn converted 19 points off turnovers, capitalizing on Mississippi Valley State's mistakes.
UP NEXT
The Braves (10-19, 10-7 SWAC) close out the regular season on the road against Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Saturday, March 8, in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. CST.
