LORMAN &045; He’s one of the tallest guys on the team, but watch out for Almaad Jackson to knock down a 3-pointer.

He’s got the green light.

Jackson knocked down a three 3-pointers for Alcorn in Monday night’s 69-58 loss at Alabama State, and they were well-received contributions. The Braves have had troubles at times on the offensive end with scoring, and Jackson broke away from the post to put in points that didn’t have to come from the team’s guards.

&uot;I got hot, and I got after it,&uot; said the 6-9 Jackson, who accounted for seven 3-pointers last year and had four coming into the contest. &uot;I can do a little shooting. I’m not just an inside guy. Coach doesn’t have any problem with me shooting, and he knows I can shoot it. I was feeling good (that game).&uot;

The contributions were well-received by a team that’s relieved heavily on two players for scoring this season. Shooting guard Delvin Thompson is the only player on the team averaging in double figures, and guard DeAndre Jones is averaging just under 10.

Jackson’s 11 points Monday were the most he’s scored since putting up 13 against Grambling State. His three 3-pointers Monday were a career-high.

&uot;Almaad can shoot the basketball,&uot; Alcorn head coach Samuel West said. &uot;He’s one of our better 3-point shooters, and he’s coming around. He’s probably the most versatile, all-around player &045; one of the most versatile we have. He really is, and he’s one of our best post players as well. He moves around the basket well and can score out on the perimeter.&uot;

The Braves (3-5, 4-15) are in the bottom half of the SWAC in scoring, in seventh with 58.3 points per game. The team showed signs of getting everything together last weekend in the road swing at Alabama despite dropping games at A&M Saturday and Alabama State Monday.

The Braves host Southern at 7:30 p.m. today.

&uot;I thought we played hard (Monday),&uot; Jackson said. &uot;We pushed up a lot, which is something we don’t normally do. Turnovers killed us. We were down six, turned the ball over and went down by 10. I think we played better. We’re just trying to get it in the basket. If we put it in the basket, coach has no problem with us shooting.&uot;

The Braves cut down their turnovers against Alabama State after finishing with 22 in the loss at Alabama A&M.; That’s perhaps the most nagging problem dogging the team right now, and the team remains worst in the conference in turnovers with 374 (19.7 per game).

West has used three people at the point guard position with Corey Jackson getting the start the last 11 games. Jones started every game at point up until the Texas A&M-Corpus; Christi trip right after Christmas, and sophomore Alleo Frazier is in the rotation as well.

&uot;We played well at times Saturday night and Monday night,&uot; West said. &uot;We’re just not consistent, and I attribute that to our leadership and our point-guard play. Our point-guard play is fine. I think it’s just finding a comfort zone as you go full speed. You have to see the game in slow motion.&uot;

Frazier is the team’s leader in assists with 40, and that’s one area the sophomore guard said could be a shot in the arm. The Braves aren’t struggling overall in assists, but more would help a struggling inside game and open up Thompson and Almaad Jackson outside.

&uot;We’ve got to develop more points from the point-guard position &045; not only points, but more assists,&uot; Frazier said. &uot;Right now, as I see it, we’re not productive at the point guard position. The point guard (position) only has two or three assists and combines for seven points. If we step up, we’ll be all right.&uot;

The results of having the inflated number of turnovers are two-fold &045; not only does the opposition get more scoring opportunities, but they get more trips to the free-throw line. Alabama State had 38 free throws Monday to Alcorn’s 23, and A&M had 33 to Alcorn’s 30.

For the season, Alcorn has 343 attempts to the opposition’s 486.

&uot;You can see right now we’re only shooting 20-25 free throws a game,&uot; Frazier said. &uot;If we make all of them, our opponents won’t make more free throws than us. I think that’s the key &045; if we get to the free-throw line more, limit our turnovers and play team basketball, we’ll be all right.&uot;

Southern will come into the Whitney Complex tonight with a 5-3 mark in conference despite being the preseason favorite to win it all. Chris Alexander’s 15.2 points per game leads the team and is second in the conference.