LORMAN, Miss. (AP) Maurice Howard scored 24 points with seven 3-pointers, Jonathan Floyd added 15 with three 3s and Alcorn State Braves hit 13 from behind the arc in beating NAIA member Blue Mountain College Toppers 79-55 on Friday night.

Reginal Johnson scored 14 points for the Braves (1-1), who trailed briefly until Jael Scott's layup sparked a 12-2 run for a 20-10 lead that grew to 41-31 at halftime.

Howard, who hit a single-season school record 74 3-pointers last season, opened the second half with back-to-back 3s and was 7 of 18 from long distance against the Toppers.

Tyree Beason scored 15 points and Da'Juonta Ross added 10 with nine rebounds for the Blue Mountain, which outrebounded the Braves 44-36, but shot 18 of 54 (33 percent) from the floor and 6 of 22 (27 percent) from long distance.

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