The second half of Mississippi Valley State's four-game road stretch resumes Saturday against Alabama A&M.
The Delta Devils play at Alabama State Monday before coming home to host Alcorn State Feb. 10.
Valley split the first two games of the road trip, losing 66-60 and then beating Grambling State 84-78 in overtime.
Valley is in a four-way tie for second place in the Southwestern Athletic Conference at 6-3. Texas Southern, Grambling and Alcorn are also 6-3.
The road is a tough place to play in the SWAC, but the Delta Devils have a chance to keep pace in the race for first place, because both Alabama A&M and Alabama State are struggling right now.
On Monday, Alabama A&M managed just one point over the final six minutes as Prairie View came from behind to claim a 60-58 win.
The loss, A&M's second straight and third in its last four games, dropped the Bulldogs to 7-13 overall and 2-7 in league play.
In recent years, the Bulldogs have been one of the SWAC's top teams. They lost in the tournament semifinals in 2003, lost in the final in 2004 and then won its first SWAC championship in 2005.
Now, two years after reaching that milestone, the Bulldogs are in danger of missing the tournament altogether. The top eight teams in the 10-team league qualify for the tournament.
A&M is tied with Prairie View for the ninth, as the second half of the season gets under way Saturday against Valley.
Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. in Huntsville, Ala.
"We need to at least split these games. Of course, we want to win both, but a split would keep us in the thick of things with us finishing with five of our last seven at home," Valley coach James Green said. "We know nothing will come easy in Alabama."
After Monday's home game against Arkansas-Pine Bluff, A&M plays five of its last seven conference games on the road. The Bulldogs are 0-4 on the road in league play.
"Our backs aren't against the wall," Pettaway said. "They're through the wall. We've got to come out and fight. This team doesn't fight enough. We play the game, but we don't fight hard enough."
Offensively, Valley hasn't been setting the nets on fire, but the Delta Devils are faring much better than A&M, which ranks ninth in the league in scoring with 57.3 points per game. Valley is fifth with 60 points a contest.
But both teams are strong on the defensive end. MVSU is tops in the scoring defense, allowing 65.4 points a game, and A&M is second at 66.2.
Valley is coming off its best offensive outing, as senior guard Standford Speech pumped in 28 points to lead the Devils to a season-high 84 points at Grambling in overtime.
It was the first time in nine league games that Valley had scored more than 64 points.
Jeffery Price added 15 points in the win at GSU. Green says Price, who is averaging 7.3 points a game, has been his most consistent player.
"He's really been a great post presence and added a lot with his leadership," Green explained. "It's been important for someone to step up and take control of this team."
One of the biggest games Saturday will be Jackson State at Alcorn State. The Braves have a chance to grab a share of first place with a win over the Tigers.
Alcorn started 1-3 in the league but has won five straight.
Green expects the race for first place to remain a tight one through the final week of the regular season.
"The best teams aren't separated much in their records or in their talent," he said.
In women's action, the struggling Devilettes face a tough task going against the red-hot Lady Bulldogs.
A&M is 9-0 in the SWAC and 13-7 overall.
Valley is tied for eighth place at 2-7. The Devilettes are 5-13.
Tipoff is set for 4 p.m. Valley games are aired live on the
radio at WVSD 91.7 FM.
