GRAMBLING, La. ­— Alcorn State’s up-and-down conference season was back up on Monday.

Keionte Cornelius and Jalyke Gaines-Wyatt combined for six 3-pointers and 24 points off the bench, and Alcorn held off a late charge by Grambling to secure a 60-53 men’s basketball victory.

Cornelius finished 4-for-7 from 3-point range and scored 14 points, while Gaines-Wyatt had 10 points.

Former Vicksburg High star Davian Williams had eight points, three assists, two steals and two rebounds. He was one of three Alcorn starters with eight points, along with Michael Pajeaud and Marcus Tankersley.

Alcorn State (5-17, 5-4 Southwestern Athletic Conference) never trailed, although it did have to work hard to keep its lead to the end. Grambling cut a 13-point deficit to one, at 54-53, on a layup by P.J. Eason with 1:58 remaining.

Williams answered with a basket on Alcorn’s next possession, and then Pajeaud and Tankersley each made two free throws down the stretch to close it out. Grambling missed three shots and had a turnover in the last 1:09.

Kintavious Dozier led Grambling (6-16, 3-6) with 12 points, and Ernest Ross had 11 points and seven rebounds.

Alcorn pulled back above .500 in conference play after going winless outside the SWAC. It has alternated wins and losses over its last seven games, but has a chance to build a winning streak and some momentum with a soft part of the schedule coming up.

The Braves’ next two games are at home against the teams at the bottom of the SWAC standings. They’ll face Arkansas-Pine Bluff Saturday at 3 p.m., and Mississippi Valley State on Feb. 10 at 6 p.m.

Southern U. 91, Jackson State 89, OT
Michael Jacobs made two free throws with three seconds left in overtime as Southern University (14-8, 9-0) fended off Jackson State (6-16, 6-3) and remained undefeated in the SWAC.

Jacobs finished with 17 points for the Jaguars. Dionjahe Thomas had 14 points and nine rebounds, and DaMariee Jones had 12 points and eight rebounds.

Daeshun Ruffin scored a game-high 23 points to lead Jackson State back from a 16-point deficit in the second half. Tamarion Hoover’s dunk with 8:40 to go put the Tigers ahead 60-59, their first lead since the opening five minutes of the game.

The teams went back and forth the rest of the way. Ruffin made a 3-pointer with seven seconds left to force overtime, and then JSU rallied from a six-point deficit in the extra period to tie it at 87.

After an exchange of baskets, Jacobs’ free throws in the final second won it for Southern.

Jackson State will host Mississippi Valley State Saturday at 3 p.m.