DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Dhashon Dyson's shot at the buzzer sent Bethune-Cookman past Alabama State 64-62 on Saturday, Jan. 28, in Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) Men's Basketball action inside Richard V. Moore Gymnasium.
 
The lead would change hands a few times down the stretch, as Alabama State (6-15, 4-4 SWAC) led 62-60 with 59 seconds remaining, following a three-pointer from Damien Madison
 
Bethune-Cookman (7-14, 3-5 SWAC) answered with a pair of Dhashon Dyson free throws with 40 seconds remaining to tie the game at 62-all.
 
Both squads had a chance for the last possession, before the Hornets' Madison stepped on the sideline while being pressured by the BCU defense, turning the ball back over to the Maroon and Gold with three seconds remaining.
 
Off the inbounds, Dyson took the ball and drove to the basket, putting up a floater from the left of the paint just before the buzzer sounded, as the ball sailed through the net, erupting the Moore Gym crowd into a frenzy with his game-winner.
 
With the loss, Alabama State falls to just 1-14 away from home on the year, while the Wildcats and Head Coach Reggie Theus improve to 5-2 at Moore Gymnasium.
 
Behind the shooting touch of Marcus Garrett and Zion Harmon, BCU held a 34-24 lead as the team headed to the locker room at the half.
 
The Maroon and Gold shot 42.4 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes, as well as a 5-of-14 touch from three-point range. The Cats held the visiting Hornets to just a 10-for-29 performance from the floor in the opening half.
 
In the second half, BCU led 41-30 with 17:54 remaining after Joe French connected on a three-pointer uncontested in the corner.
 
With the Wildcats leading 49-39, a 9-0 run off the strength of Isaiah Range who got going during the second period, allowed the Hornets to pull within 49-48 with 10:32 remaining. A free throw from Antonio Madlock allowed the Hornets their first lead of the second half with under two minutes left on the clock.
 
Alabama State was charged by Range with 18 points and five rebounds – the bulk of those coming in the second half. Madlock provided the Hornets with 12 points and three assists.
 
BCU was led in scoring by Garrett with 19 points and three assists. Dyson collected 13 points, and it was Zion Harmon ending the night with 11 points. Kevin Davis also supplied the Maroon and Gold with 10 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double.
 
Bethune-Cookman returns home Monday, Jan. 30, when the Cats welcome Alabama A&M to Moore Gymnasium for another SWAC affair beginning at 7:30 p.m.
 
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