MONTGOMERY, Ala. (February 11, 2019) – Senior Jordan Evans was the only Delta Devil to register double-digit points in an 82-59 road loss for the Mississippi Valley State men's basketball team at Alabama State concluding a four-game road trip Monday night. Evans scored at least 20 points or more for the third time this season after leading MVSU with a game-high 21 making 6-of-15 shots from the field, 3-of-6 three-pointer and 6-of-7 free throws.
Despite shooting 12-for-33 (36.4 percent) from the field, 2-for-6 (33.3 percent) from beyond the arc, and 1-for-4 (25 percent) from the free throw line the Delta Devils (3-21, 1-9 SWAC) only trailed the Hornets (8-13, 6-4 SWAC) by eight at the half, 35-27. In the first half, MVSU outrebounded ASU 24-17, with 10 of those rebounds off the offensive glass which allowed the Delta Devils plenty of second-chance opportunities keeping them in the game.
The Delta Devils fell victim to another second-half shooting slump Monday night. Their bench contributed 10 points compared to the 23 from the ASU bench in the final twenty minutes. Overall, the Hornets bench outscored the Delta Devils bench (41-22). Despite the sluggish offensive night, the Delta Devils outscored ASU in the paint (24-22) and also in second-chance opportunities (24-16).
Unlike their first meeting, this game was not a back-and-forth contest between the Delta Devils and Hornets. ASU led the entire second half and built their largest lead of 28 with under a minute left in the contest. Evans was held to nine points in the first half, yet when his aggressiveness to get to the basket did not result in made layups it got him to the free throw line frequently in the second half where he converted all five of his attempts. Twelve second-half points from Evans pulled the Delta Devils to within 14 at the 12:23 mark.
On the night, the Delta Devils shot an overall 31.8 percent from the field, 28.6 percent from beyond the arc, and 68.4 percent from the free throw line. Senior Emmanuel Ejeh led the Delta Devils with 10 rebounds while adding five points, which was his seventh double-figure rebounding game of the season. Other Delta Devil scorers included seniors
Dante Scott and Gregory Jones-Rollins with nine points apiece off the bench.
ASU had five players in double-figure scoring paced by Jacoby Ross' 17 points followed by AJ Farrar's 16 points off the bench.
MVSU returns to home action against Alcorn State on February 16 at 4:30 p.m. and Southern on February 18 at 7:30 p.m. in the R.W. Harrison Complex.
