Southern stumbles at Alcorn State

 
The Southern men’s basketball team could not manage to get the “W” Saturday and were bested by Alcorn State 60-40.
None of the Jaguars (15-14, 11-5 Southwestern Athletic Conference) could manage to get into double digits, Derick Beltran led the team only scoring nine points.
Quinton Doggett was only able to muster up seven rebounds and scored eight points.
“I think Alcorn did a good job of preparing to play us, I just think that we wasn’t as equal to the task of being ready to play as they were,” said head coach Roman Banks who surprised everyone getting the Jaguars to second place in the SWAC.
Twann Oakley scored 17 points to lead Alcorn State (9-19, 6-10). Anthony Nieves led the Braves with six rebounds.
In January the Jaguars defeated the Braves 65-54 at the F. G. Clark Activity center, and it is safe to say they wanted to avenge that loss.
The Braves held SU to shoot only 34 percent from the field and out rebound the Jaguars 25-21 in their victory.
“We are in a learning process, this team is learning, we’ve been fortunate to win a few ball games they have to understand that you have to learn how to play at the top,” said Banks “your not always shooting at the top people are shooting at you and it’s a different type of focus and mind set you have to have and I Just don’t know if we are ready for that level yet.”
The Jaguars go on to face Texas Southern (12-16, 11-5) Thursday and Prairie View A&M (13-16, 9-7) Saturday at the F.G. Clark Activity Center, but in order for SU to come on top, someone will have to step up and become a solid shooter.
At times during the Jaguars run we seen sparks from players like Micheal Celestin who was hot during the beginning of the season but has since then cooled off and player other players like Doggett and Beltran but there isn’t anyone who is a constant threat to shoot the ball.
“We are still a work in progress we have a long way to go we been able to fortunately win some basketball games but we still have a lot of weaknesses,” Said Banks.
This is the last game for seniors Fredrick Coleman and Doggett.
Doggett who seems to be a constant for the Jaguars hopes just like any senior to finish out strong along with Coleman who at one point during the game played a full 40 minutes and posted a double-double.