MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Interstat) — In a game defined more by grit than grace, the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats methodically pulled away in the second half to secure a 69-54 victory over the Alabama State Hornets in a Southwestern Athletic Conference men’s basketball matchup Saturday at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome.

The contest, played before a crowd of 1,454, was a stark contrast in offensive efficiency. Bethune-Cookman (10-11, 7-1 SWAC) leveraged its size and interior presence, while Alabama State (6-14, 4-4) struggled to find any consistent scoring rhythm, shooting just 37.5% from the field and a frigid 22.2% from beyond the arc.

The first half was a sloppy, defensive struggle, ending in a 29-29 deadlock. Both teams combined for 32 turnovers in the opening period, with the Hornets’ pressure forcing 17 Bethune-Cookman miscues. Alabama State guard Tyler Byrd of Memphis, Tennessee, was a disruptive force early, scoring 11 of his 13 points before halftime and swatting three shots. However, the Wildcats stayed level by dominating the paint, scoring 24 of their first-half points inside.

The game’s decisive shift came after intermission, sparked by Bethune-Cookman’s offensive poise and Alabama State’s mounting scoring drought. The Hornets, who managed only 25 points in the second half, went over seven minutes without a field goal during a critical stretch. Their offensive rating for the game plummeted to 78.0 points per 100 possessions, a testament to the Wildcats’ tightening defense.

Bethune-Cookman capitalized with a 15-4 run that turned a narrow 38-35 lead into a commanding 53-39 advantage. The catalyst was forward Jakobi Heady. The 6-foot-6 junior from Chicago shook off a quiet first half to score 14 of his game-high 18 points after the break, including a momentum-shifting three-pointer and several strong finishes at the rim. Heady added six rebounds and was a central figure in the Wildcats’ second-half surge.

Heady’s effort was complemented by a double-double from forward Doctor Bradley. The 6-foot-8 sophomore from Los Angeles controlled the glass with 10 rebounds and chipped in 13 points, two assists, a block, and a steal. His interior work helped Bethune-Cookman win the rebounding battle 38-31 and score 40 points in the paint.

While Alabama State’s defense created opportunities, generating 17 points off turnovers, its offense could not sustain the effort. Guard Micah Simpson of Morristown, Tennessee, led the Hornets with 16 points, but needed 18 shots to get there. The team’s offensive struggles were encapsulated by a 4-for-18 performance from three-point range and an inability to convert fast-break chances into consistent points.

Bethune-Cookman’s bench provided crucial minutes, particularly from forward Daniel Rouzan of Las Vegas, who scored 11 points and grabbed five rebounds, and forward Ariel Bland of Eden Prairie, Minnesota, who contributed five points, six rebounds, and two blocks in just 18 minutes. Their production offset a subpar 15-for-24 performance from the free-throw line for the Wildcats.

The victory extended Bethune-Cookman’s winning streak to three games as they continue to solidify their position in the SWAC standings. Alabama State, meanwhile, has now lost two of its last three following a brief two-game conference win streak.

Bethune-Cookman will look to continue its momentum on the road against Alabama A&M on Monday. Alabama State returns to the Dunn-Oliver Acadome that same afternoon to host Florida A&M.