HUNTSVILLE, Ala. | The Alabama A&M University men's basketball team returns home for the first time in 2024 as the Bulldogs play host to Alcorn State in a Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC) contest on Thursday night. Tip-off is set for 7:30 p.m. from the AAMU Event Center.
Alabama A&M (3-12 overall, 2-0 SWAC) are currently riding a two-game winning streak after road victories over Arkansas-Pine Bluff and Mississippi Valley State. Alcorn State (1-13, 0-1) is in the midst of a 12-game losing streak, with its lone win coming on Nov. 8 against Xavier (La.).
HEAD COACH - OTIS HUGHLEY JR.
Career Record: 18-30 (second season)
At Alabama A&M: 18-30 (second season)
SWAC Record: 12-8
SERIES HISTORY [note: since 2004]
All-Time Record vs. Alcorn State: Alcorn State leads, 20-19
Record in Huntsville: Alabama A&M leads, 11-7
Last Meeting: Alcorn State 89, Alabama A&M 76 (1/7/2023)
Hughley vs. Alcorn State: 0-1
LAST MEETING
Alcorn State led 45-31 at the break and rolled to an 89-76 win last season in Lorman, Miss.
Dailin Smith led the way for Alabama A&M with 15 points, while
Jayland Randall and
Omari Peek added 12 and 11 points, respectively.
Messiah Thompson chipped in with 10 points.
Keondre Montgomery paced the Braves with 24 points and Dominic Brewton registered 21 as the Braves shot nearly 51 percent from the floor.
LAST TIME OUT – ALABAMA A&M
Dailin Smith led four players in double figures with 17 points, seven rebounds and four assists as the Bulldogs held off Mississippi Valley State,78-70, on Monday night.
Lorenzo Downey, who earned the SWAC's Impact Player of the Week, added 14 points, including four 3-pointers, along with five boards, while
EJ Williams chipped in 13 points.
AC Bryant came off the bench to provide 10 points as the Bulldogs shot 50 percent (27-of-54) from the field.
LAST TIME OUT – ALCORN STATE
Alcorn State are coming an 88-80 loss to Jackson State on Saturday.
Jeremiah Kendall registered a double-double of 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Djahi Binet and Jeremiah Gambrell added 15 and 11 points, respectively. Stephen Byard came off the bench to pour in 10 points as Alcorn State shot 41.7 percent (30-of-72) from the floor.
TOP SCORERS
Alabama A&M
Dailin Smith – 13.8 points
Omari Peek – 8.5 points
Cameron Tucker – 7.3 points
Alcorn State
Jeremiah Kendall – 16.2 points
Byron Joshua – 11.4 points
Jeremiah Gambrell – 11.1 points
SWAC PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH IN PRESEASON POLL
Alabama A&M – seventh
Arkansas-Pine Bluff – third
NATIONAL STATISTICS
Alabama A&M
15
th – Free-throw attempts per game
16
th – Free-throws made per game
17
th – Bench points per game
Dailin Smith – 15
th in free throws
Dailin Smith – 25
th in free-throw attempts
BIGGEST NON-CONFERENCE WIN
Alabama A&M – vs. Tennessee State (85-83, OT // Nov. 29, 2023)
Alcorn State – vs. Xavier (LA) (70-62 // Nov. 8, 2023)
WEEKLY SWAC HONORS
Alabama A&M –
Lorenzo Downey (SWAC Impact Player of the Week)
THE MARCH FOR 1,000 POINTS
Dailin Smith currently has 835 career points and needs 165 points to reach 1,000 career points
UP NEXT
Alabama A&M wraps up its short two-game homestand on Saturday as the Bulldogs play host to Jackson State. Tip-off against the Tigers is set for 5 p.m. from the AAMU Event Center and streamed on Bulldogs All-Access.
For complete of Alabama A&M Athletics, check out the official homepage at www.aamusports.com. Remember to follow us on social media: Instagram (@aamuathletics) and Twitter (@_aamuathletics).
