MONTGOMERY, Ala. (Interstat) — In a grinding, defensive struggle defined by blocked shots and missed opportunities, the Southern Jaguars used a decisive second-half surge to secure a 71-64 victory over the Alabama State Hornets in a SWAC men’s basketball contest Tuesday night at Dunn-Oliver Acadome.

The game, played before an announced crowd of 1,234, was a far cry from the teams’ previous meeting just three weeks prior, a 69-68 Southern win. This rematch was characterized by physicality and rim protection, with both teams combining for 17 blocked shots. Southern improved to 14-15 overall, while Alabama State fell to 10-19.

The first half belonged largely to the Hornets, who leveraged their interior defense to build a lead. Alabama State’s Jerquarius Stanback, a 6-foot-10 forward from Asheboro, North Carolina, set the tone early with a pair of blocks and six quick points, helping his team establish an early advantage. Southern’s offense sputtered, hampered by the length of Stanback and 6-foot-10 teammate Jasteven Walker. The Jaguars managed just 28 points in the opening period, trailing 34-28 at the break as Alabama State’s Tyler Byrd and Asjon Anderson provided timely scoring.

The complexion of the game shifted dramatically after halftime. The most important stretch of the contest began with Southern trailing 41-36 with just over 16 minutes remaining. Sparked by the backcourt duo of Michael Jacobs and Cam Amboree, the Jaguars embarked on a 15-2 run over the next five minutes that ultimately decided the outcome.

Jacobs, a 6-foot-2 guard from Atlanta, Georgia, was the catalyst. He scored 11 of his team-high 21 points in the second half, including a critical 3-pointer during the run that gave Southern its first lead since the game’s opening minute. Amboree, a guard from Pearland, Texas, chipped in with key assists and steady ball-handling, finishing with 11 points and four assists while playing a game-high 36 minutes.

However, the run was anchored by defense. Southern’s 6-foot-8 forward Terrance Dixon from Lawrenceville, Georgia, was a force around the basket, recording five blocks to go with 13 points. His presence altered countless Alabama State attempts and fueled Southern’s transition game. The Hornets went scoreless for over four minutes during the Jaguars’ pivotal run, missing seven consecutive field goal attempts and turning the ball over twice as their offensive rhythm completely dissolved.

Alabama State fought to stay within reach, closing to within 61-59 on a Micah Simpson layup with just over seven minutes left. But each time the Hornets threatened, Southern had an answer, often through Jacobs or Dixon. A Dixon dunk off an Amboree assist with 2:23 left pushed the lead back to six points, and Alabama State could not muster a final rally, scoring only five points in the game’s last four minutes.

For Alabama State, Stanback’s defensive impact was notable with four blocks and nine points, but the Hornets struggled to find consistent offense outside of Byrd’s 11 points and Anderson’s 13. The team shot poorly from the floor and from the 3-point line, a recurring issue that plagued them throughout the night.

Southern’s ability to withstand Alabama State’s early defensive pressure, then impose its own defensive will in the second half, proved the difference. The Jaguars outscored the Hornets 43-30 after halftime, turning a six-point deficit into a seven-point victory. The win gave Southern a regular-season sweep of the series and moved them closer to the .500 mark in conference play.

Both teams return to action on Thursday in the final games of the regular season. Southern will travel to face Alabama A&M, while Alabama State will host Grambling.