MONTGOMERY (Interstat) — Terrence Hampton recorded 18 points, seven rebounds, two assists and four blocks to lead Alabama State to a 66-60 men’s NCAA Division I basketball victory over Okla. Panhandle on Wednesday at Dunn-Oliver Acadome. The Hornets improved to 1-2 on the season in front of an announced attendance of 749. Okla. Panhandle was a non-divisional opponent. Alabama State scored 66 points on 68 possessions, an offensive rating of 97.4, and used 18 offensive rebounds and a 27-11 advantage in points off turnovers to secure the win.

Alabama State took a 34-32 lead into halftime. Mike James opened the scoring with a 3-pointer at 19:04, but Okla. Panhandle’s Gyterson Louissaint answered with a 3 to tie the game. Hampton made a layup and later added two free throws, while Paul McMillan hit a 3-pointer as the Hornets built an early lead. Damarion Bonds made consecutive layups, and Tre Powell hit two 3-pointers in the first half. Okla. Panhandle’s Isaiah Brown made a 3-pointer in the final minute of the half to keep the visitors close. Hampton had eight points and three rebounds in the first half for Alabama State. The Hornets shot 34 first-half points and held Okla. Panhandle to 32 before the break.

Okla. Panhandle opened the second half with a three-point play by Rj Walker to pull within one at 31-32. Alabama State responded with a 7-0 run. Powell hit a 3-pointer, Hampton made two free throws, and James made a driving layup to extend the lead to 39-31. Okla. Panhandle’s Xavier Sulaiman kept his team close. Sulaiman hit a 3-pointer at 11:26 to cut the deficit to 42-47, and his 3-pointer and free throw at 4:05 pulled Okla. Panhandle within 56-60. Hampton made two free throws at 3:49, Bonds made a layup at 1:48, and Hampton tipped in a miss at 0:48.6 to seal the win. Okla. Panhandle added two free throws in the final 34 seconds. Alabama State outscored Okla. Panhandle 32-28 in the second half.

Hampton led Alabama State with 18 points, seven rebounds, two assists and four blocks. Bonds had 12 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double. James added 13 points, three rebounds and one assist. Powell scored nine points off the bench. McMillan had six points, two rebounds and three assists. Marquintez Dixon grabbed five rebounds, and Isaiah Barganier also had five rebounds. For Okla. Panhandle, Louissaint and Sulaiman keyed the offense. Louissaint made a 3-pointer, a jump shot, a tip-in layup and two free throws. Sulaiman hit a 3-pointer, a jump shot and several free throws. Akeem Dauphin made two layups and a dunk. Isaiah Brown made a 3-pointer and two free throws. Braedyn Ellison made four free throws and a floating jump shot. Josh McCrear made a layup and three free throws. Kensington Grant-Brown made a 3-pointer and two free throws. Josh Coulanges made a layup and a free throw. Rj Walker had a three-point play. Hampton entered the game averaging 8.5 points and 6.0 rebounds over his previous two games, including a 13-point, nine-rebound effort against Georgia Gwinnett on Nov. 9 and a four-point, three-rebound outing at Texas A&M on Nov. 3.

Alabama State’s 18 offensive rebounds led to second-chance points, though the Hornets were outscored 24-20 in the paint. Okla. Panhandle scored 11 points off Alabama State’s 11 turnovers, while Alabama State converted Okla. Panhandle turnovers into 27 points. Alabama State had 10 assists, five blocks and committed 20 fouls. Okla. Panhandle had three fastbreak points to Alabama State’s six. Alabama State previously lost to Georgia Gwinnett 79-77 on Nov. 9 and fell at Texas A&M 97-66 on Nov. 3. The Hornets shot 66 points on 68 possessions, an offensive rating of 97.4, and held a 27-11 edge in points off turnovers. Alabama State also had 18 offensive rebounds, 10 assists, five blocks, 11 turnovers and 20 fouls. The Hornets’ defense limited Okla. Panhandle to 28 second-half points after allowing 32 in the first half.

Alabama State next plays at San Jose State on Nov. 15, followed by road games at UC Davis on Nov. 17, at Fresno State on Nov. 20 and at California on Nov. 23. The Hornets return home to face Ark.-Monticello on Nov. 29 before road games at Oklahoma on Dec. 7, at Texas Christian on Dec. 8, at Auburn on Dec. 13, at West Florida on Dec. 16 and at Air Force on Dec. 18.