DAYTONA BEACH, Fla.-The Wildcats are back for a big weekend of basketball as they host Alabama State and Alabama A&M looking to remain undefeated at home on the season. The Wildcats host the Hornets on Saturday, Feb. 1 at 5:30 p.m., followed by hosting Alabama A&M on Monday, Feb. 3 at 7 p.m.
Saturday's game will serve as Hoops Homecoming, with a tailgate beginning at 11am and program alums set to be honored throughout the game.
Tickets for both games start at $10. They can be purchased at
BCUAthletics.com/Tickets. The game will be streamed live at
YouTube.com/CatEyeNetwork
Saturday, February 1 | 5:30 p.m. EST
Opponent: Alabama State (8-13, 4-3 SWAC)
Time: 5:30 p.m. EST
Location: Daytona Beach, Fla. | Moore Gymnasium
Tickets: BCUAthletics.com/Tickets
Watch: YouTube.com/CatEyeNetwork
Live Stats: bcuathletics.com/stats
Monday, February 3 | 7 p.m. EST
Opponent: Alabama A&M (7-13, 3-4 SWAC)
Time: 7 p.m. EST
Location: Daytona Beach, Fla. | Moore Gymnasium
Tickets: BCUAthletics.com/Tickets
Watch: YouTube.com/CatEyeNetwork
Live Stats: bcuathletics.com/stats
A slow start to the second half for B-CU proved to be the difference as Alcorn State held on for a 70-61 win, Monday night at the Davey L. Whitney Health & Physical Education Complex.
FIRST HALF
Bethune-Cookman's
Daniel Rouzan scored 13 of the first 15 points for the Wildcats held a 15-13 advantage through a chippy first seven minutes of play.
Alcorn State retook the lead on a Jalyke Gaines-Wyatt free throw before B-CU scored seven straight to lead it by five on after a
Seneca Willoughby three.
Keionte Cornelious drained a triple of his own to put the Braves back in front, 29-28 with three minutes until the break.
The two squads remained locked at 32-32 with just 30 seconds until halftime. An Alcorn State steal went for naught as
David Onanina's chasedown block prevented an easy Braves bucket. A late layup from Djahi Binet made it a two-point Braves advantage as the teams headed to the half.
SECOND HALF
B-CU managed only six points in the first six minutes of the second half as Alcorn raced in front by thirteen, primarly through its paint offense.
A
Jesus Carralero Martin tip-in trimmed the deficit to six at 49-43 with 11 minutes to play, but the Braves pushed it back to 11 on a Gaines-Wyatt layup.
Another B-CU run, highlighted by back-to-back buckets from
Trey Thomas, made it just a five-point deficit with two minutes left, but the B-CU triples stopped falling, and the Braves got to the charity stripe to ice the game at 70-61.
Alabama State is 8-12 on the season and 4-3 in SWAC play. Notable wins for Alabama State include MTE wins over Omaha, and Lamar, a win over UT Martin, and SWAC wins over UAPB, Missisppi Valley State, Alabama A&M, and Prairie View A&M.
The Hornets ranks top three in the SWAC with 74.9 points per game offensively. They shoot 41 percent from the floor and an even 33 percent from three. They are fourth in the SWAC in team rebounds at 36 per game.
Senior guard CJ Hines has led the way for Alabama State, scoring 15 points per game on 43 percent shooting and 38 percent from three with a team-high 53 assists.
Alabama A&M is 7-13 on the year and 3-4 in SWAC play, with a non-conference win over Coastal Carolina, and SWAC wins over UAPB, MVSU, Jackson State, and Florida A&M.
The Bulldogs are the SWAC's highest-scoring offense, averaging over 77 points per game. Though not the SWAC's best shooting team, reaching just over 41 percent from the floor as a team, they have taken more shots than any other team in the league. The Bulldogs have shot 32 percent from three on the year. The Bulldogs also excel on the boards, leading the conference with 39 rebounds per game.
Junior guard AC Bryant leads the Bulldogs with 15 points per game. Graduate guard Darius Ford has 61 assists on the season.
Saturday marks the 38th meeting between Alabama State and B-CU. The Wildcats trail the Hornets in the series, 18-20, but have won four straight.
Monday marks the 25th meeting between AAMU and B-CU. The Wildcats hold a 16-9 advantage in the series, having won the last meeting, 63-61 in Daytona.
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