LORMAN, Miss. -- Marquis Vance scored a season-high 27 points and grabbed nine rebounds as Alcorn State picked up its ninth straight victory, building a 15-point lead in the first half and holding off Alabama State down the stretch for a 75-67 victory Saturday night.

The Braves' streak is their longest since 1998-99, when they won 12 straight games. They are one game behind Texas Southern in the Southwestern Conference standings, two games ahead of third-place Southern University.

Vance hit a free throw with 18:42 left in the game to give Alcorn State (14-11, 11-3) an 18-point lead, but the Hornets ran off 10 straight points to the deficit into single digits. Rodney Simeon hit a 3-pointer to give Alabama State the lead, 57-56, with 8:29 remaining, but Alcorn State pulled away down the stretch.

Simeon scored 15 points to lead the Hornets (8-17, 6-7). Torloft Thomas added 14 points.