By BILL BURRUS
Sports Editor
Andre Payne came into Mississippi Valley State’s first home game worried about where his team would find points.
His concerns were valid for sure as the Delta Devils struggled shooting the ball in a 77-63 loss to Alcorn State Saturday in Itta Bena. MVSU hit just 38 percent from the field as it remained the only winless team among the 351 schools in Division I.
“It hurts for sure to be in this position,” said Payne, in his third year as Valley’s head coach. “It is mentally wearing our guys out, but they will keep fighting. We will get things solved.”
Valley is 0-17 overall, 0-4 in the SWAC and has lost 18 straight dating back to last season.
Payne got his leading scorer, Dante Scott, back Saturday after being without Scott for two games. The junior forward led the Delta Devils with 16 points, but none of his other teammates reached double figures. Jordan Evans was the closest with nine.
Scott also had team-highs in rebounds (six) and assists (four).
When asked where he might find more points, Payne said: “I am going to have to be a smarter coach. If we’re not a big scoring team, we’re going to have to go with our full-court press from the start and try to create some easy baskets in transition for us.”
The next chance to do that will come Monday, when Valley hosts a talented Southern team at 7:30.
Alcorn’s A.J. Mosby scored 23 points as the Braves snapped a five-game skid and picked up their first conference win in five tries.
Mosby was 9 of 13 from the field, including 5 of 7 from beyond the arc for the Braves (5-13, 1-4).
Maurice Howard added 20 points off the bench before fouling out. Tyler Carter led the team with six rebounds and five assists in addition to his five points.
The Braves shot 55 percent compared to 39 percent for MVSU and had a 34-26 rebounding edge.
Alcorn State led 43-29 at the break and cruised through the second half.
e Delta Devils (0-17, 0-4). U is the only team in Division I without a win this season.
nContact Bill Burrus at 581-7237 or bburrus@gwcommonwealth.com.
