JACKSON, Miss.- Alcorn State men's basketball mounted a furious second-half comeback but came up just short in an 89–86 decision against Jackson State on Saturday afternoon at the Lee E. Williams Athletics and Assembly Center.
After trailing by 16 points early in the second half, the Braves showed resilience and fire, outscoring the Tigers 49–36 over the final 20 minutes to turn the game into a down-to-the-wire battle. Alcorn connected on 14 three-pointers in the contest and shot better than 53 percent from beyond the arc, keeping constant pressure on Jackson State throughout the second half.
Davian Williams led the Braves with 24 points on 9-of-15 shooting, knocking down four three-pointers and adding six rebounds and three steals. Shane Lancaster poured in 21 points, hitting six triples and providing a spark during the second-half surge. Nick Woodard also finished with 21 points, seven rebounds and three assists, scoring key baskets late as Alcorn erased the deficit and briefly took the lead.
The Braves closed within one possession several times in the final minutes, highlighted by back-to-back three-pointers from Woodard and Williams that swung momentum and energized the Alcorn bench. Jameel Morris contributed five assists, while Tycen McDaniels added seven points, five rebounds and two blocks as the Braves battled on both ends of the floor.
Jackson State was led by Daeshun Ruffin, who scored 31 points and went 12-of-13 from the free-throw line. Despite the Tigers' early control of the game, Alcorn's defensive pressure and perimeter shooting fueled a dramatic finish that went down to the final seconds.
The Braves finished the afternoon shooting 46.8 percent from the field and forced 16 turnovers, turning defense into offense during their late rally.
Alcorn State returns to action on Saturday, January 10, traveling to Huntsville to face Alabama A&M. Tipoff is set for 4 p.m.
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