Delta Devils Still Perfect, Run Streak to 11 Games
SWAC.org
MVSU runs its winning streak to 11 games over Alabama A&M. Southern survives in overtime past JSU. Arkansas-Pine Bluff holds on by a point over Alabama State. Alcorn State steals one at Grambling.
Mississippi Valley State 78, Alabama A&M 64
ITTA BENA, Miss. -- Terrence Joyner scored 19 of his 27 points in the second half and Mississippi Valley State defeated Alabama A&M 78-64 on Monday night.
The Delta Devils (12-11, 11-0 Southwestern Athletic Conference) shot 50 percent from the field (13 of 26) and outscored Alabama A&M 47-34 in the second half.
It was a school record 11th straight win for the conference-leading Delta Devils.
The Bulldogs (5-15, 3-8) took a 36-35 lead 2:36 into the second half, but MVSU responded with five straight, and wasn't threatened the rest of the way. The Delta Devils increased their lead by as many as 16 points three times.
Cor-J Cox, who scored all his points in the second half, Paul Crosby and Brent Arrington added 12 points each for MVSU.
Casey Cantey led four Alabama A&M players with 20 points. Demarquelle Tabb chipped in 12, Brandon Ellis 11 and Jeremy Crutcher 10 for the Bulldogs.
Southern 49, Jackson State 44 (OT)
JACKSON, Miss. -- Jameel Grace scored six of his 18 points in overtime to lead Southern University past Jackson State 49-44 Monday night.
Grace hit the first basket of overtime, and Quinton Doggett's layup gave the Jaguars (13-11, 9-2 Southwestern Athletic Conference) a 45-41 lead. Jonathan Lewis' 3-pointer brought the Tigers (5-18, 3-8) within a point, but a jumper by Grace made it 47-44 with 48 seconds left.
After Jackson State's Kelsey Howard missed a 3-point try, two free throws by Grace provided the final margin. Sydney Coleman's layup for Jackson State with 5 seconds left in regulation sent the game to overtime tied 41-41.
Doggett finished with 12 points and 12 rebounds for Southern, which has won four in a row and defeated Jackson State 68-37 on Jan. 9.
Howard scored 16 for Jackson State, which shot 22.7 percent (15 of 66) for the game to Southern's 37.8 percent (17 of 45).
Arkansas-Pine Bluff 62, Alabama State 61
PINE BLUFF, Ark. -- Savalace Townsend scored 18 points Monday night to guide Arkansas-Pine Bluff to its third straight victory, a 62-61 decision over Alabama State. Lazabian Jackson added 14 points and nine rebounds for the Golden Lions (5-19, 4-7 Southwestern Athletic).
Phillip Crawford's 17 points paced the Hornets (8-15, 5-6), who dropped their second straight. Jeff Middlebrooks added 14 and Ivory White 13, while Jonathan Jefferson grabbed 10 rebounds.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff bolted to a 19-point first-half lead and was still up 43-26 with 17:51 left before Alabama State clawed back.
The Hornets got two 3-pointers from Ryan Watts during a 12-0 run that cut it to 43-28 with 12:44 left. Jackson's dunk with 1:57 to go put the Golden Lions up 61-56, and Clay Johnson's free throw made it 62-59 1:07 later.
White brought the Hornets within 62-61 with two foul shots with 22 seconds left, but Pine Bluff held on.
Alcorn State 57, Grambling 55
GRAMBLING, La. -- Xavian Rimmer sank a pair of foul shots with 10 seconds left, lifting Alcorn State to a 57-55 win over Grambling State on Monday night.
Rimmer's shots salvaged the Braves (7-16, 4-7 Southwestern Athletic Conference) nearly giving away a 55-51 lead with 1 1/2 minutes left, as Quincy Roberts tied it at 55-all for the Tigers on a layup with 38 seconds remaining.
But Rimmer did his job, and Roberts couldn't win it for Grambling State as his jumper at the buzzer wouldn't fall.
The Braves overcame a six-point halftime deficit in the win, outscoring Grambling State 31-23 in the second half. Twann Oakley scored 17 points to lead Alcorn State, which has now won back-to-back games for the first time this season.
The Braves avenged a Jan. 9 loss to the Tigers.
Brandon Dorsett paced the Tigers (3-18, 3-8) with 16 points.