Overtime victory

Box Score
First-year head coach Rob Spivery said the Jags’ matchup with his former Alabama State squad would be emotional.
That was an understatement.
After leading by as much as 15 points with 12:56 left in the second half, the Jags ran out of offensive gas and ended up trailing by three with 5:15 left in the game. However, a free throw made by senior guard Chris Alexander and later, senior center Jerrid Campbell sparked a resurgence that led to an Alexander lay-up and an overtime with a foe Spivery knew all too well.
“This was a fun game to play,” Spivery said. “It was (a) very competitive and emotional basketball game. Both teams played very hard.”
The Jaguars (7-11, 7-1 Southwestern Athletic Conference) kept their confidence although Alabama State took the lead in the second half, leaving the Jaguars scoreless in a 7-0 run in the first 10 minutes.
The Jags had only 1:12 left in regulation when senior forward Peter Cipriano missed a jumper and allowed Alabama State Alabama State (4-14, 2-5 SWAC) to regain possession and move past the Jaguars 62-60.
Southern managed to play catch up after retaking a ball initially turned over by Southern junior guard Deforrest Riley-Smith. It was Alexander’s final score with nine seconds left in the game that allowed the Jags another chance to beat the Hornets in overtime.
“I knew this was going to be a good game. It was very emotional,” Alexander said. “Alabama State had extra incentives to play hard because they were playing against their old coach. But we were able to get pass that. Once we went into overtime, I knew we were going to win.”
Alexander finished with 26 points and four assists.
The Jaguars never looked back after taking the ball in overtime, although questionable calls by game officials and free throws allowed the Hornets to keep the game close.
With the Jags ahead 71-68, senior guard Brandon Wardlow’s made one of two free throw attempts with just :02 left, pushing Southern up with a four-point lead.
Smith had 12 points while Cipriano and sophomore forward Ralph Hishaw added 10 points each.
Spivery said the playing his former team was not the big story.
“The fact is that we had another opponent in front of us,” Spivery said. “And in order for us to contend for the championship, we have to beat whomever is there. That’s why we had to beat Alabama State tonight.