BIRMINGHAM, Alabama (Ticker) -- Alabama State earned its first
trip to the NCAA Tournament, rallying from a 13-point
second-half deficit to defeat Alcorn State, 64-52, in the
Southwestern Athletic Conference championship game.
Alabama State (22-8), the regular-season champion in the SWAC,
went scoreless for nearly five minutes at the start of the
second half and fell behind, 41-28, with 15:25 remaining.
Alcorn State (15-15) was seeking its sixth NCAA Tournament
appearance under 71-year-old coach Davey Whitney, who has won 10
SWAC regular-season titles. The Braves scored only 16 points in
the second half.
Ron Spivery, in his fifth season at Alabama State, guided the
Hornets to their first winning campaign since 1994. They were
13-15 last season.
Junior guard Joey Ball led five players in double figures for
Alabama State with 14 points. Keith Gamble and Tyrone Levett
scored 12 apiece while Alvin Pettway also fueled the comeback by
registering all 10 of his points in the second half.
Walter Harper and Justin Shelwood scored 11 points apiece for
Alcorn State, which lost to Alabama State three times this
season.
The Braves last appeared in the NCAA Tournament in 1999.