Alcorn State survived a nail-biter finish to defeat the Mississippi Valley State Delta Devils 61-60 at home Saturday night.

The Braves jumped ahead early, hitting two quick three pointers to take the early lead, but MVSU bounced right back and tied the game at six with 15 minutes to go in the first half.

Both teams went at each other and kept the game a one-possession game for most of the half.

Ronald Alexander and Kadrian Bryant for MVSU each excited the crowd with two big dunks.

Despite a few big plays by the Delta Devils, the Braves stayed in the game and battled to the buzzer, trailing MVSU 29-28 at the half.

They took back the lead on their first possession of the second half. Delvin Thompson scored 16 points for the Braves while teammate Alex Owumi scored 15 points to lead the Braves charge down the stretch in the second half.

Eventually, the game came down to free throws as the Delta Devils cut the Braves lead to one with 7.6 seconds to play. Clifton Douglas made two key free throws with 17.6 seconds left in the game to keep the braves on top by four, 60-56.

MVSU cut the lead to one when Bryant made two free throws with 7.6 to play. The Delta Devils then had a chance to take the lead after the Braves turned the ball over, but a wide open Michael Clark mishandled a pass under the Delta Devils basket and the ball went out of bounds.

Alcorn State then held on to win 61-60.

“God was the key in the win,” said Alcorn head coach Sam West.

He sad he was pleased with the way his team played defense, but added that they need to work on executing free throw opportunities down the stretch.

West said this game was the first time his team was in this type of situation with the lead.

In women’s action, the Alcorn State Lady Braves endured a hard fought game with multiple lead changes before downing Mississippi Valley State University 74-69 at home Saturday night.

In the first half both teams jockeyed for position early. Alcorn was first to take the lead but later fell behind due to poor shooting from the field.

The Lady Braves shot 37 percent from the field, while the Devilettes finished out the first half, shooting 64.7 percent from the field.

MVSU battled through four lead changes in the first half to take a 29-28 advantage at the break.

“I don’t think we came out with the intensity we should have,” said Alcorn Sate Lady women’s head coach Shirley Walker.

The Lady Braves bounced back aggressively at the start of the second half. Rasaan Powell, who played every minute of the second half, stepped up big by scoring 17 points in the second half.

Defensively the Lady Braves stepped things up in the second half as well. In the second half, ASU forced the Devilettes into hooting just 37. 1 percent from the field, while the Lady Braves shot 55 percent from the field.

Improved shooting in the second half paid off for Alcorn State, as the Lady Braves defeated MVSU by the final of 74-69.