title image via AAMU Basketball
Courtesy of Alabama A&M Athletics
THE HILL | Five Alabama A&M University men’s basketball players reached double figures in scoring as the Bulldogs posted their most points during the Division I era on Thursday night with a 121-78 rout of Oakwood in front of the third largest crowd in AAMU Event Center history.
Alabama A&M (1-0) for just the fifth time in the Division I era reached the century mark and the first time since the 2011-12 season when the Bulldogs beat Talladega (100-79). AAMU’s 121 points were a Division I school record, surpassing the 108 set against Prairie View A&M during the 2006 season. Also, the 43-point victory was the largest margin win in program history, surpassing the mark of 41 in 1999.
Chad Moodie led Alabama A&M with a team-high 13 points, five rebounds, two assists, two blocks and one steal. Dylan Mclean registered 12 points, three boards and one steal. Warren Yeh, London Riley and EJay Greereach added 11 points.
Jordan Bell paced Oakwood with a double-double of 24 points and 10 rebounds, along with five assists and two steals. Nicholas Kennard added 15 points, three boards and three assists, while Chase Jackson tallied 11 points, three rebounds and a pair of assists.
HOW IT HAPPENED
- Alabama A&M playing in front of the third-largest crowd inside the AAMU Event Center (4,851), raced out to a 9-0 lead just two minutes into the game after a Downey 3-pointer
- Oakwood (1-4) trimmed the deficit to 9-3 after a trey by Damon Fann with 17:42 left in the opening frame
- However, AAMU stretched its lead to 17-3, capped by a pair of free throws by Moode, with 16:41 remaining
- The Bulldogs used a 12-5 run over the next four minutes, extending the margin to 29-8 after back-to-back 3-pointers by AC Bryant and London Rileywith 12:32 left
- A layup by Khari Person snapped a three-minute shooting spell for the Ambassadors as Oakwood trailed 39-13 with 9:32 remaining
- Person’s layup sparked the Ambassadors as Oakwood used a 10-3 run over the next five minutes, closing the gap to 42-21 with just over five minutes to play
- A triple by Yeh snapped a cold spell for the Bulldogs as AAMU stretched their lead to 47-23 with 3:56 left
- Alabama A&M controlled the final four minutes of the first half, outscoring Oakwood, 17-9, and took a commanding 64-32 advantage into the break
- The Bulldogs began the second half on a 13-3 run and didn’t look back in cruising to the season-opening win
GAME NOTES
- Alabama A&M shot 54.8 percent (46-of-84) from the field and 65.4 percent (17-of-26) from the free-throw line
- The Bulldogs grabbed 58 rebounds, including 41 off the defensive glass
- Chad Moodie recorded 13 points, five boards, two assists, two blocks and one steal
- Dylan Mclean chipped in 12 points, three rebounds and one steal
- Warren Yeh, London Riley and EJay Greer each added 11 points
- The Bulldogs finished with 76 bench points, 64 points in the paint, 38 points off 24 Oakwood turnovers, 28 fastbreak points and 23 second-chance points
- Oakwood went 23-of-68 shooting (33.8 percent) and 25-of-43 (53.5 percent) from the charity stripe
- The Ambassadors grabbed 39 rebounds, with 25 coming off the defensive glass
- Jordan Bell registered a double-double of 24 points and 10 rebounds, with five assists and two steals
- Nicholas Kennard added 15 points, three boards and three assists
- Chase Jackson tallied 11 points, three rebounds and two assists
- The Ambassadors finished with 43 bench points, 26 points in the paint, 20 points off 18 AAMU turnovers, 12 second-chance points and 11 fastbreak points
UP NEXT
Alabama A&M continues its season-opening three-game homestand as the Bulldogs welcome Arkansas Baptist on Monday night. Tip-off against the Buffaloes is set for 7 p.m. from the AAMU Event Center and streamed on Bulldogs All-Access.
