HOMEWOOD, Ala. – North Carolina A&T had a hard time ending a lengthy second-half drought, and the Alabama State Hornets used it to hand A&T its fifth straight loss to open the season, 88-73 during the Aggies' second game at the Samford Thanksgiving multi-team event at Samford University's Pete Hanna Center. 

While the Aggies dropped to 0-5, the Hornets, a fellow HBCU from the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC), improved to 2-4. Four Aggies scored in double figures, led by graduate forward Jeremy Robinson, who finished with a career-high 18 points. Landon Glasper and Uchenna Kellman-Nicholes had 13 points apiece and Camian Shell finished with 16 points and six assists. 

Shell's jumper with 13:19 remaining in the game brought the Aggies to within one, 62-61. The Aggies went the next 10 1/2 minutes of game action without hitting a shot from the floor. By the time the Aggies scored their next basket from the field, a jumper in the paint by Shell, the Hornets had outscored A&T 20-8 to hold an 82-69 lead with 2:42 remaining. 

"Those things happen in college basketball, where you go on droughts," said A&T head coach Monté Ross. "The thing is, your defense has to sustain you and keep you in it until you finally start making shots. We weren't able to do that this afternoon."

Alabama State shot 7-for-14 from the floor during A&T's dry spell. The Aggies connected on only two field goals over the final 13:19. Like other opponents, the Hornets took advantage of the Aggies' lack of size. The Hornets shot 55.7 percent from the floor, outscored the Aggies 48-20 in the paint and out-rebounded A&T 41-29. Alabama State's inside presence also helped the Hornets shoot 7-for-16 (.438) from 3-point range. 

It's difficult, but one of the things we talk to the guys about is this is the hand we are dealt, so we have to play these cards," said Ross about a team who is playing without two post players they would have during the 2023-24 season. "There is no turning the cards in and asking for more; this is what we've got. We have to find a way. And we'll keep working to find a way to win."

Alabama State took its largest lead of the first half, 47-35, with 2:46 remaining on an Isaiah Range 3-pointer. Jalal Mckie answered with a three before Amarr Knox followed his miss to push the lead back to double figures, 49-38.

But two Robinson free throws kicked started a 7-0 run by A&T to end the half as Robinson capped the spurt by completing an and-one to send the Aggies into the locker room trailing 49-45 at halftime. Madlock led the Hornets with 25 points and six rebounds on 11-for-18 shooting.