DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Zion Harmon scored 23 for the second straight game, but a late Alcorn layup was the difference as the Wildcats dropped a 70-67 decision, Monday night at Moore Gymnasium. 



After Bethune-Cookman (9-11, 4-3 SWAC) opened the contest with a wide open Reggie Ward Jr. dunk, Alcorn State (5-15, 4-3 SWAC) rattled off eight straight before Zion Harmon drew a trio of free throws to break a Wildcats scoring drought.

Jeremiah Gambrell's three and a set of Braves free throws made it 15-3 at the game's 14-minute mark. 

An 11-2 B-CU run midway through the half, capped off by fiery dunks from Heady, erased what was a 14-point Braves lead to pull B-CU to within 30-27 with 6:45 remaining in the first half. 

Damani McEntire's finally brought things all even at 40-40 with seconds remaining in the half. Alcorn State's buzzer-beater attempt clanged off iron, and the two teams entered the break knotted at 40 all.

Heady and Zion Harmon combined for 27 points in the game's first 20 minutes.

Ward's driving layup on B-CU's first possession of the second half gave B-CU its first lead of the game at 42-40. 

The two squads traded baskets from there, as the contest hit the under-12 media with the Braves leading just 53-51 after a turnaround jumper from Derrick Carter-Hollinger. 

Zion Harmon nailed his third three of the game to finally put B-CU in front again at 61-60 with four minutes to play. 

A Harmon circus shot and an incredible scoop-and-score from Damani McEntire kept the Wildcats on top, 67-64 with 90 seconds to play. 

Alcorn's Jeremiah Kendall sunk a contested layup to put the Braves back within one with just 30 seconds to play. The Braves forces a Harmon turnover to takeover at midcourt. 

After a pair of timeouts, Kendall drained another layup, and the Wildcats were blocked at the other end of the floor. B-CU called timeout with 8.6 seconds remaining, down by one, with the ball under their own basket.

The Braves forced a turnover, and held on for the 70-67 win. 

• For the second straight night, Zion Harmon finished as B-CU's leading scorer with 23, including a 10-10 mark at the free throw line. ht also added three rebounds, six assists, and a steal.
• Jakobi Heady added 15 points on 6-11 shooting with two steals and an assist. 
• Reggie Ward Jr. also finished in double figures with 11 with four rebounds and two blocks. 
• Dhashon Dyson added six assists
• The Wildcats were out-rebounded, 38-26.
• B-CU scored 26 points off turnovers to Alcorn's 8. 
• B-CU scored 11 points off turnovers to Alcorn's 5. 
   

   

The Wildcats are back out in the road next week as they head to Alabama for another two-game SWAC trip. B-CU opens the weekend against Alabama State on Saturday, Feb. 3, at 1 p.m. 

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