LORMAN, Miss. - Despite leading for most of the afternoon, Bethune-Cookman could not overcome its own mistakes, falling just short in a 57-55 loss to Alcorn State on Saturday at the Davey L. Whitney Health & Physical Education Complex.

The Wildcats (13-12, 10-2 SWAC) were outscored 32-23 in the second half, as Alcorn (6-18, 5-7 SWAC) closed the game on a late run and took the lead for good in the final seconds.

1^st Half
Bethune-Cookman came out strong on both ends of the floor, using efficient shooting and solid defense to build an early advantage. The Wildcats opened the game on an 11-6 run, highlighted by a pair of three-pointers from Tyler Andrews and strong interior play from Daniel Rouzan.

The Wildcats extended their lead to double digits midway through the half, as Ariel Bland and Jakobi Heady sparked a 9-0 run that pushed the margin to 23-12 with 9:28 remaining. Arterio Morris added a tip-in and Rouzan finished multiple dunks in the paint to keep the momentum on Bethune-Cookman's side.

Bethune-Cookman shot 60 percent from the field in the opening half and held Alcorn to just 36 percent shooting. Despite a late push from the Braves at the free-throw line, the Wildcats maintained control and went into the locker room with a 32-25 lead.

2nd Half
The Braves came out with renewed energy in the second half, slowly chipping away at the deficit behind improved shooting and aggressive play in the paint. Alcorn opened the half on a 7-2 run to cut the lead to four, but Rouzan and Morris answered with baskets to keep the Wildcats ahead.

Bethune-Cookman still held a 47-40 advantage with just over 11 minutes remaining, but Alcorn began to take control down the stretch. The Braves used a 7-0 run, capped by a three-pointer from Davian Williams, to take their first lead at 51-49 with 7:39 to play.

The Wildcats briefly regained the lead on a Willoughby three-pointer and a jumper from Rouzan, but turnovers and missed opportunities allowed Alcorn to stay within striking distance. With the game tied at 55-55 in the final seconds, Shane Lancaster converted a layup with five seconds remaining to give the Braves the decisive two-point edge.

Bethune-Cookman had one last chance, but a final shot attempt was blocked, sealing the narrow defeat.

• Daniel Rouzan had 13 points to lead all scorers
• Bethune-Cookman finished with a season-high 23 turnovers.
• The Braves were led by Omari Hamilton, who scored 11.
• Jameel Morris finished with six steals for Alcorn while Davian Williams had four.

The Cats look to bounce back against Jackson State on Monday night at 7 p.m. EST.

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