Alabama State Basketball

[ASUHORNETS]

Hornets Begin Journey For Another SWAC Title


MONTGOMERY—With the calendar about to turn over into a new year, the Alabama State University men's basketball team turns their thoughts to achieving another Southwestern Athletic Conference championship and another appearance in the NCAA Tournament.
 
ASU will begin the journey on the road as they open SWAC play at Grambling State on Tuesday, Jan. 3 at 7:30 p.m.  Following that game, the Hornets will journey to Jackson, Miss., where they will face Jackson State on Thursday, Jan. 5, also at 7:30 p.m.
 
ASU will enter Tuesday's game with a 3-9 record, and have played 10 of those first 12 games on the road.  ASU was able to pull out a 78-72 victory over Reinhardt University in their last outing, but it was the play of the opponent that Head Coach Lewis Jackson was eager to see.
 
“We really wanted to get Reinhardt on the schedule because of the way they play,” Jackson said.  “They were quick off the dribble and could get into the lane and make things happen.  They were also very good at hitting the three's and that is the way most of the teams in our league are going to play and it is a challenge we are going to face for our next 18 ball games.”
 
The Hornets continue to work on their defense as they enter SWAC play.  Even though the defense is nowhere near the championship team of last season, ASU will enter conference action as one of the SWAC's best defensive scoring teams.  They are second in the conference allowing 69.8 points per game.
 
Kenderek Washington continues to lead ASU in scoring at 15 points per game.  He has scored in double digits in 11 of the Hornets' 12 games and also leads the team in rebounding at 5.3 per outing.
 
Tramaine Butler looks to become the latest Hornet to reach the 1,000 career points club during the conference season.  He needs only 147 more points to reach the milestone.  He is averaging 11.6 points per game.
 
Ivory White continues to be the productive player he has been his entire career.  He is averaging a career-best nine points and almost five boards per outing, while Jeffrey Middlebrooks is second in the conference in assists with 55, averaging 4.6 per game.
 
The Hornets used the preconference part of the season to work on depth and post play and they may have found both in the play of Philip Crawford.  He has only played in four games so far, but is averaging 9.3 points and 8.3 rebounds per game.  He is coming off a 21-point, 18-rebound performance against Reinhardt.  His play should help the younger post players come along as the season progresses.
 
ASU will begin the home portion of the conference season on Saturday, Jan. 7 when they host Mississippi Valley State at 5 p.m.
  

http://www.bamastatesports.com/news/2011/12/31/MBB_1231114650.aspx

[Bison 4 Life]

Are you  the SID for ASU?

[ASUHORNETS]

Are you  the SID for ASU?

No....

[ASUHORNETS]

Hornets Basketball Opens SWAC Play on the Road

 GRAMBLING, La.—The Alabama State University men's basketball team has arrived in Grambling as the Hornets will face Grambling State Tuesday, Jan. 3 at 7:30 p.m.

ASU (3-9) will face a Tiger (0-10) team that has yet to win a game this season, but, like the Hornets, have played a strong preconference schedule that has seen them face teams like Houston, Ole Miss, Arkansas, Texas Tech and Texas Christian.

Even though both teams have not started the season the way they wanted, head coach Lewis Jackson knows the stakes are going up as the conference season is ready to begin.


More......

 http://bamastatesports.com/news/2012/1/2/MBB_0102122753.aspx

[ASUHORNETS]

Crawford, Middlebrooks Leads ASU Past Grambling

 GRAMBLING, La.—Jeffrey Middlebrooks and Philip Crawford led a balanced scoring attack with 14 points each to lead Alabama State University to a 73-62 win at Grambling University to open the Southwestern Athletic Conference season.

Tramaine Butler added 11 points and Ivory White had 10 to join in double digits and Ryan Watts came off the bench to add nine.

The Hornets shot a sizzling 58 percent in the second half (47 overall) and built the lead to as many as 18 points (60-42) with 7:31 left in the game.

ASU only committed eight turnovers and forced 16. Middlebrooks had another good game dishing the ball as he finished with six assists and only one turnover.

The Hornets also had their best game of the season at the free throw line, knocking down 19 of their 23 attempts, led by Middlebrooks who hit six and Crawford added four.

Quincy Roberts, who finished with a game-high 33 points, was able to cut into ASU's 18-point lead with back-to-back threes, but Grambling could never get any closer than the final 11-point victory of margin.

“It was a good win, anytime you come on the road and get a win it is good,” head coach Lewis Jackson said. “We were able to set the tone of how we wanted to play early and we pretty much stuck to it, but we have to learn how to close the game.”

More....


 http://bamastatesports.com/news/2012/1/3/MBB_0103123426.aspx

[ASUHORNETS]

Hornets Look For Another Road Win at Jackson State

 JACKSON, Miss.—The Alabama State University (4-9/1-0 SWAC) men's basketball team is used to playing on the road this season and looks to pick up another road win at Jackson State (3-10/1-0 SWAC) on Thursday, Jan. 5 at 7:30 p.m.

Now that the conference games have started, there is not a lot of turnaround time between games, especially for those teams that are on the road.

“It is hard once the season comes around to get ready in two days, but it is what everyone else in the conference is doing,” head coach Lewis Jackson said. “We have to try and regroup and put Grambling behind us and with the one day we have to prepare for Jackson, we are going to cover as many things as we can. We will go out and practice based on some of the things they have done in the past.”


 http://bamastatesports.com/news/2012/1/4/MBB_0104124202.aspx

[ASUHORNETS]

ASU Athletics to Video Stream 15 Home Basketball Games

Alabama State Athletics will video stream 15 SWAC  home basketball contests live over the next two months through its website, www.bamastatesports.com.
 
This Saturday's Alabama State – Mississippi Valley State women and men's basketball doubleheader will be streamed live on Hornet Vision beginning at 2:45 p.m. from the Dunn-Oliver Acadome.
 
Fans can subscribe to watch on a per-event/doubleheader basis for $5.95 or purchase the Hornets All-Access subscription for all eight events/15 games for $29.95.
 
http://www.bamastatesports.com/news/2012/1/4/MBB_0104125719.aspx
 

[ASUHORNETS]

Hornets Slip Past JSU in Triple Overtime

 JACKSON, Miss.—Jeffrey Middlebrooks scored 17 points to lead Alabama State University (5-9/2-0 SWAC) to an 81-78 triple overtime win over Jackson State University (3-11/1-1 SWAC) in Southwestern Athletic Conference action.

Middlebrooks was joined in double digits as Tramaine Butler added 16, Ivory White had 15 and Kenderek Washington added 13.

Jackson State's Christian Williams led all scorers with 31 points and Jenirro Bush added 20 before fouling out in the second overtime period.

ASU held a 10-point halftime lead, but only shot 21 percent in the second half as JSU came all the way back and took their first lead since the opening minutes when Williams knocked down a jumper with 1:50 left in regulation to give JSU a 55-53 lead. Washington was able to knock down two pressure free throws with 13 seconds left to get the game into overtime.

 http://bamastatesports.com/news/2012/1/6/MBB_0106122106.aspx

[ASUHORNETS]

Hornets Host Mississippi Valley, Look to Remain Undefeated in SWAC Play

 e Southwestern Athletic Conference men's basketball season there are only three undefeated teams left and two of those will be playing tomorrow when Alabama State (5-9/2-0) will host Mississippi Valley State University (2-11/1-0) Saturday, Jan. 7 at 5 p.m. in the Dunn-Oliver Acadome.

ASU is coming off a road trip to open conference play which saw them defeat Grambling State (73-62) and Jackson State (81-78) in triple overtime.

The Delta Devils did not play on Thursday evening, but did open conference play with an 82-67 win over the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff.

“They are a very good ball club and are well coached by coach Woods,” head coach Lewis Jackson said. “They have good athletes that can get up and down the floor, they will shoot it quick and they can play off the dribble and it is just another tough battle.”

 http://bamastatesports.com/news/2012/1/6/MBB_0106125103.aspx

[ASUHORNETS]

Hornets Fall to MVSU

 MONTGOMERY—Kenderek Washington and Ivory White combined for 30 points, but it was not enough as Alabama State University (5-10/2-1) dropped a 67-60 decision to Mississippi Valley State University (3-11/2-0).

Playing their third game in five days may have turned out to be too much for the Hornets as the Devils came out and supplied defensive pressure and pushed the ball up the court to keep control of the pace of the game.

The tactic seemed to work as ASU only shot 27 percent in the second half and at one time missed five consecutive free throws as they were trying to fight their way back into the game.

Paul Crosby, who finished with nine points, put MVSU in the lead with a basket with 10:46 left in the game, and ASU never regained the lead.

MVSU pushed the lead out to 11 points (61-50) with 1:17 left in the game on a Terrence Joyner basket, but the Hornets were not going down without a fight.

 http://bamastatesports.com/news/2012/1/7/MBB_0107120528.aspx

[ASUHORNETS]

Hornets Prepare for UAPB

 MONTGOMERY—The Alabama State University (5-10/2-1) men's basketball team will look to get back into the win column Monday, Jan. 9, when they host the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff (1-13/0-2) at 7:30 p.m. in the Dunn-Oliver Acadome.

It has been a long week for the Hornets who are playing their fourth game in seven days, winning the first two games on the road. That final road win was a triple overtime winner at Jackson State University. Even though the win was a good one, the effects of that game showed in the second half of ASU's loss to Mississippi Valley State on Saturday night when they were only able to shoot 27 percent from the field in the seven-point loss.

“These guys are thick-skinned and they came out and gave an effort and was upbeat in today's practice,” head coach Lewis Jackson said. “They know we had an opportunity to win the ball game last night and did not get it done. They are excited to get into another game on Monday.”

 http://bamastatesports.com/news/2012/1/8/MBB_0108124837.aspx

[MilesBear1]

We are alright let's get it Hornets.

[ASUHORNETS]

Hornets Down Arkansas-Pine Bluff




 MONTGOMERY—Tramaine Butler and Ivory White had 14 points each to lead Alabama State University (6-10/3-1) to a 62-56 win over Arkansas-Pine Bluff (1-15/0-3) in men's conference basketball action.

The Hornets held a slim one-point lead at halftime, but came out in the second half scoring eight straight points to open up a nine-point lead (32-23) in the first three minutes.

ASU was meticulous in working the offense and went on to build its largest lead at 53-38 with 6:27 left when Philip Crawford scored off an offensive rebound, but UAPB would not go down easy.

Following that basket, the Golden Lions went on to outscore ASU 17-6 to cut the lead to 59-55 with 47 seconds left in the game. The Hornets, who struggled at the free throw line all night, was able to get two at the charity stripe from Jeff Middlebrooks and one from Butler to keep the Hornets just out of reach of the charging Golden Lions.

“We kind of walked around in the first half with no purpose at all and just being lackadaisical in our efforts and we had to try and fire them up a little bit at halftime,” head coach Lewis Jackson said. “I thought we came out in the second half and played with more aggression, but we are still not playing good basketball. We had an eight point lead with a minute to go and we are just rushing to the basket trying to score and we allowed them to get back in the ball game.”

“We wanted to try and slow them down and not let them get run outs and we tried to get the ball out of Townsend's hands and limit his possessions.”

Savalace Townsend, who entered the game leading the conference in scoring, finished with a game-high 23 points and Lazabian Jackson had 11 to lead UAPB.

ASU shot 49 percent for the game and that includes a blistering 62 percent (16-26) in the second half. Philip Crawford joined Butler and White in double digits with 10. Both Crawford and White completed with double-doubles with 10 rebounds each as ASU out rebounded the taller Golden Lions 37-33.

White's three pointer with two seconds left in the first half sent ASU to the locker room with a slim 24-23 lead. ASU was able to knock down four three's in the opening half while UAPB only hit one, but the Golden Lions out shot ASU 44-37 percent in the half to stay right with the home team.

Both teams had 17 rebounds and both teams struggled with turnovers as ASU had 13 and UAPB had 12 in the first half.

After playing four games in seven days the Hornets will be able to take a day off before getting back to practice preparing to host Alabama A&M on Saturday, Jan. 14 at 5 p.m.

 http://bamastatesports.com/news/2012/1/9/MBB_0109124543.aspx

[ASUHORNETS]

Men's Basketball Back in Practice

 MONTGOMERY—After a much needed day off, the Alabama State University men's basketball team returned to the practice court today in preparation for this Saturday's game against arch-rival Alabama A&M University. ASU will host the game on Saturday, Jan. 14 at 5 p.m. in the Dunn-Oliver Acadome. The game has been dubbed the “Black Out” game, with all ASU fans encouraged to attend the game wearing black.

“Great practice today, the guys came out with a lot of energy and competed well,” head coach Lewis Jackson said. “They know it is a big week and a big game coming up. They were coaching themselves in terms of trying to do all the correct things like passing and boxing out, running the floor and defending the ball, just the total aspect of the game. They were pushing themselves.”

“They needed a day off were they could rest and get their legs back under them and get their class schedules together. With school starting back they will get back to the normal routine of doing things. We're excited. It is another opportunity to go out and compete and with Alabama A&M coming to town it does not take much to get them fired up.”

ASU just completed playing four games in seven days and was able to come out of the first week of conference action with a 3-1 record. Included in those games was a triple-overtime victory at Jackson State University. ASU stands 6-10 overall.

AAMU will enter the game with a 3-10 overall record and 1-3 in the conference.

 http://bamastatesports.com/mobile/index.aspx?story=2230

[ASUHORNETS]

Men's Basketball Ready for A&M

 MONTGOMERY—Alabama State University men's basketball team will conclude their season-long three-game home stand when they host rival Alabama A&M University Saturday, Jan. 14 at 5 p.m.

The Hornets are 1-1 on the current home stand and can ill afford to drop another home conference game so early in the season. The Hornets are tied for third in the conference with a 3-1 record and stand 6-10 overall.

The Bulldogs have struggled early under first-year head coach Willie Hayes with a 1-3 conference record and 3-10 overall. Their lone conference win was a narrow three-point win (65-62) over Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Hayes may be in his first season as the head coach, but spent the previous 17 seasons as an assistant on the Bulldogs staff.

“When a team has been with a coach for a long time they begin to take on the personality of the coach and Willie Hayes, who is a great guy and has been doing a great job, has been doing pretty much the same thing they have been doing in the past,” head coach Lewis Jackson said. “They are going to get out and run, they will play man and press. So we expect them to play pretty much the way they have played over the years and we have to be able to handle the things they do.”

The two teams have met 101 times on the court with the Hornets winning 73 times. Last season AAMU pulled away late for a 75-60 win in Normal while the return trip to Montgomery gave the Hornets an 82-68 victory. The two teams met a third time, in the Southwestern Athletic Conference Tournament, which the Hornets won 81-61 in the first game of the tournament. In fact, since the 2000-01 season, the Hornets have won 21 of the 28 games played between the two teams.

Once again, the Hornets defense must face one of the top scorers in the conference as Casey Canty visits the Acadome with a 15.2 points per game average which is second in the SWAC. Jeremy Crutcher is tied with ASU's Ivory White at 14 in the SWAC in scoring at 10 points per game.

Scoring has been down in the conference as a whole this season, but AAMU is second in the SWAC averaging 61.9 points per game. The Hornets are not too far behind. Even though they are sixth in the conference in scoring they are only 2.2 points per game behind AAMU, averaging 59.7.

Kenderek Washington continues to lead ASU in scoring at 14.1 points per outing. He has scored in double digits in 13 of the team's 16 games. Tramaine Butler continues his assault on becoming the next 1,000 point scorer for the Hornets. He has 903 career points and is averaging 11.8 this season. Ivory White is averaging 10 points per game, which is amazing since he is averaging less than eight shots per game.

“This game is in no stretch as big as it is in football, but in the basketball arena it is a big game,” Jackson said. “Number one it is our next game and a conference game and number two it is Alabama A&M. It is an in-state rivalry that has gone on for years and years. It is one the players look forward to because it will be sold out in here on Saturday and it is one we have to find ourselves in because the records go out the window and the teams will go out there and battle it out and see who can get the bragging rights for that particular game.”

The game will be broadcast live on WVAS and can be watched live on SWAC TV.

 http://bamastatesports.com/news/2012/1/13/MBB_0113121732.aspx