NORMAL — Alabama A&M University used a big second-half run and held on to beat cross-town rival University of Alabama in Huntsville, 75-68, Monday night in the Mayor’s Cup men’s basketball exhibition game.
Before a nearly packed audience at the AAMU Event Center, Koron Davis led the Bulldogs with 24 points, on 9-of-13 shooting, with three steals, one assist and one rebound. Gabe Kincy posted 15 points, six boards, two steals and one assist, while Kintavious Dozier added 11 points, four boards, one steal and one assist.
Matt Thurman paced the Chargers with 15 points, six boards, three assists and one steal. Knute Wood chipped in 12 points, three boards, two assists and one steal, while Thomas Allard registered 11 points, six boards, three steals, two assists and one block.
HOW IT HAPPENED
Alabama A&M jumped out to a 7-3 advantage after a Dozier triple with just over 16 minutes to play in the opening half, but UAH answered and used a 7-0 run over the next four minutes to grab a 10-7 advantage before a Bilal Abdur-Rahman trey tied the game at 10 with 11:59 left.
The Chargers, who were 7-of-13 from behind the arc in the first half, continued to use the long ball as Rayven Turner and Bryce Mason drained back-to-back 3-pointers as UAH took a 25-17 lead, forcing AAMU head coach Donte’ Jackson to call a timeout with 5:34 remaining in the half.
The UAH lead grew to as many as 10 points, but Alabama A&M chipped away at the deficit and cut the margin to 32-27 at the break.
Alabama A&M came out the break hot, scoring 15 straight points as UAH was held without a field goal for nearly six minutes as the Bulldogs built a 42-32 lead.
A Davis 3-pointer stretched the AAMU lead to 51-37 with 12:31 left, but UAH closed the gap to 55-47 after a Quentin Toles trey with just over 10 minutes to play.
The Bulldogs went more than four minutes without a field goal as the Chargers continued to chip away at the big AAMU lead, trimming the deficit to 59-53 with 5:56 remaining.
Alabama A&M got a 3-pointer and jumper by Kincy to push the lead to 64-55 with 4:39 left.
UAH cut the margin to 69-66 after a triple by Toles, but Dozier’s driving layup gave the Bulldogs a 71-66 advantage with 1:30 remaining and Alabama A&M sealed the game at the free-throw line to capture the Mayor’s Cup.
GAME NOTES
- Alabama A&M shot 45.6% (26-of-57) from the floor and 76.5% (13-of-17) from the free-throw line
- The Bulldogs grabbed 31 rebounds, with 24 on the defensive glass
- Koron Davis recorded 24 points, on 9-of-13 shooting, with three steals, one assist and one rebound
- Gabe Kincy posted 15 points, six boards, two steals and one assist
- Kintavious Dozier added 11 points, four boards, one steal and one assist
- Alabama A&M finished with 26 points in the paint, 25 bench points, 23 points off 18 UAH turnovers, 11 fastbreak points and seven second-chance points
- UAH went 21-of-51 shooting (41.2%) and 12-of-17 (70.6%) from the charity stripe
- Matt Thurman paced the Chargers with 15 points, six boards, three assists and one steal
- Knute Wood chipped in 12 points, three boards, two assists and one steal
- Thomas Allard registered 11 points, six boards, three steals, two assists and one block
- UAH finished with 22 bench points, 17 fastbreak points, 14 points off nine AAMU turnovers, 10 points in the paint and nine second-chance points
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