NICEVILLE, FLA. — Torloft Thomas drove the right wing for a layup with 1.2 seconds left to cap a late rally that enabled Alabama State to earn a 66-64 victory past Chicago State in the consolation round of the Emerald Coast Classic Saturday at Raiders Gym on the campus of Northwest Florida State.
The Hornets closed out the game with a 13-5 run in the final five minutes erasing a 59-53 deficit. Thomas finished with 15 points, while Bobby Brown had 13 points and seven rebounds.
Alabama State overcame cold shooting in the first half, hitting just 22.2 percent from the floor while staring at a 41-29 intermission deficit.
Guard Jamel Waters led the Hornets, who snapped a three-game losing streak, with 19 points including 12 in the second half. Waters also set a tournament record with five steals.
Waters hit a three-point basket with 4:51 left that ignited a 9-0 run for Alabama State and then hit two free throws with 31.8 seconds to push the lead to 64-61. But guard Jaward Adekoya answered with a three-point basket from the right baseline allowing Chicago State to tie the game with 21 seconds remaining.
Eric Cole and Jordan Madrid-Andrews led Chicago State with 14 points apiece. The Cougars out rebounded Alabama State, 43-34, with Madrid-Andrews grabbing a game-high eight boards.
Chicago State shot 50 percent in the first half, but the Cougars hit just 32.1 percent in the second half.
