Alcorn State at Alabama A&M 1/25/21 - College Basketball Picks & Predictions

The Alcorn State Braves travel on the road to T.M. Elmore Gymnasium to take on the Alabama A&M Bulldogs. Alabama A&M is one of the few unbeaten left in college basketball, although they’ve gotten just four games under their belt due to a COVID outbreak. Since coming back, they’ve beaten Alabama State and Southern to improve to 2-0 in conference play. 

Despite the small sample size, the Alabama A&M offense has been solid in those games averaigng 77.2 points per game ranking 74th in the country in scoring offense. The Bulldogs are shooting 45% from the field but have really struggled from three, taking over 25 per game and shooting just 37.7% from beyond the arc. 

A sophomore duo has emerged as the one and two scoring options for Alabama A&M. In the backcourt it’s Garrett Hicks averaging 20.3 points per game. Hicks is taking nearly 9 threes per game and is shooting a team-high 45.7% from beyond the arc. Forward Jalen Johnson is pulling down 6.8 rebounds and adds 19.8 points per game.

Alcorn State has struggled on both ends of the floor and is among the worst offenses in college basketball averaging 65.4 points per game. The Braves are shooting 40% from the field and 29.6% from three, both ranking outside the top 300. Alcorn State is 330th in KenPom adjusted offense.

Most of that scoring is done by Troymain Crosby who is coming off making the All-SWAC team last season, averaging 19.1 points per game. He struggles from three but has improved his shooting percentage by 8% from last season to shoot 46.4% from the field. Kurk Lee, a graduate transfer from Drexel, is dishing out a team-high 3.8 assists and adds 12.1 points per game.

Alcorn State has unfortunately not found much success on the defensive end either where they’re allowing 80.6 points per game ranking 331st in scoring defense. Opposing teams have shot 49.1% from the field and the Braves are 327th in KeNPom adjusted defense. Alabama A&M is allowing 71.8 points per game but holds opposing teams the nation’s second-best effective FG% and is 260th in KenPom adjusted defense.