Alcorn State has waited months for this game. Coach Ernest T. Jones has had it circled on his calendar for a couple of weeks that just seemed like an eternity.

Alcorn hosts Arkansas-Pine Bluff tonight in a nationally televised contest. For the university, it’s a chance to showcase the school to a rare national audience in primetime. For the Braves, it’s a chance to break an ugly three-game losing streak that included Saturday’s 65-0 shellacking at the hands of Troy.

“It’s exciting. It’s our second time playing on TV and it’s an opportunity to play on TV at home. I’ll be happy to get that first win in this situation,” said Jones, who is 0-3 in his first year as Alcorn’s coach. “It’s going to give our recruits an opportunity to see us. If they see us playing, they’re going to like it. Even if we don’t play well, they’ll get a chance to see what we do and what we’re about. It’s going to be great exposure for the university.”

Jones’ squad stepped out of the SWAC to play Troy, a team from the Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly Division I-A) last week and got the wrong kind of exposure. The Trojans scored 38 points in the second quarter, outgained Alcorn 736-120 in the game, and handed the Braves their worst beating since a 60-7 loss at Stephen F. Austin in 2003.

That came a week after another ugly 29-0 loss at Grambling in which Alcorn gained just 176 yards of offense, had 105 yards in penalties, and four turnovers.

“It’s been our guys not executing. We’ll have a good play, then drop a ball. Our defensive backs have to quit letting balls be completed. We’re playing good teams, but we’re killing ourselves,” Jones said. “I think we can get better at it. I like the focus we’ve had this week. These guys aren’t acting like an 0-3 team.”

A good remedy for what ails the Braves might be playing a UAPB squad that has struggled as much as they have. UAPB has been outscored 96-24 in its three losses and is giving up more than 400 yards per game.

“It is nice to go up against some even talent. Our guys match up well with their guys,” Jones said. “They’re 0-3, we’re 0-3. Somebody’s going to get their first win. It’s going to be a good game.”

Jones added that stopping Pine-Bluff’s running attack will be a top priority. Running backs Mickey Dean and Martell Mallett are averaging 7.1 and 6.3 yards per carry, respectively.

“The two-headed monster. It’s hard for me to believe there are two better backs in this league,” Jones said. “They want to run the football, and we have to put as many hats inside the box as we can.”