Montgomery basketball fans are a different breed. If you’ve ever sat in the Dunn-Oliver Acadome during a late-season SWAC showdown, you know exactly what I mean. The air gets thick, the band starts rolling, and every single possession feels like a heavyweight title fight. But keeping up with the alabama state basketball schedule can be a bit of a headache if you aren't glued to the official athletics site every twelve minutes.
We are currently deep into the 2025-26 grind. Honestly, this season has been a rollercoaster for Coach Tony Madlock's crew. Coming off that historic 20-win season last year, expectations were through the roof. But as any college hoops junkie knows, the non-conference slate is basically a gauntlet designed to test your soul and your depth chart.
The 2025-26 Alabama State Basketball Schedule Breakdown
Early on, the Hornets didn't shy away from the big dogs. We're talking road trips to Florida State and Cincinnati. Those games are tough. They're payday games, sure, but they’re also where you find out if your freshmen can handle the bright lights. Losing to FSU 101-64 in November was a gut punch, but then the team turned around and stunned UAB in Birmingham just four days later. That 77-74 win over the Blazers is arguably the highlight of the season so far. It showed that when Asjon Anderson is cooking, Alabama State can play with anyone in the region.
The schedule isn't just about who they play; it’s about when the rhythm shifts. After a brutal December that saw the Hornets drop games to Missouri and Memphis, the focus has shifted entirely to the Southwestern Athletic Conference (SWAC).
Key Dates for the Remainder of the Season
If you’re looking to catch a game or just want to know when to tune into ESPNU, here is what the landscape looks like right now:
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- February 7: At Grambling State. This is always a war. Grambling plays a physical brand of ball that tends to frustrate the Hornets' backcourt.
- February 9: At Southern. This one is huge. It’s a Monday night tip-off in Baton Rouge, and it’s actually scheduled for a national broadcast on ESPNU at 9:00 PM.
- February 14: vs. Arkansas-Pine Bluff. Nothing says Valentine’s Day like a 3:00 PM matinee at the Acadome.
- February 16: vs. Mississippi Valley State. Don't let Valley's record fool you; they always play Bama State tough.
- February 19: At Bethune-Cookman. A long flight to Daytona Beach that usually determines who gets a favorable seed in the tournament.
The season basically culminates in early March with the SWAC Tournament. Everything on the alabama state basketball schedule right now is just a build-up to that week in Birmingham.
Why This Roster Is Built Differently
Tony Madlock didn't just stand pat after last year's success. He brought in nine newcomers for this 2025-26 campaign. It’s a lot of fresh faces to integrate. You’ve got guys like Tyler Mason, a 6'9" forward from Howard College, who has been a revelation on the glass. Then there’s Jerquarius Stanback, a redshirt freshman who is currently leading the team in blocks with over two per game.
But the engine? That’s Asjon Anderson.
Anderson is averaging over 18 points per game. He’s the guy who gets the ball when the shot clock is under five and the play has broken down. He’s a bucket-getter, plain and simple. Beside him, Trey Miller has been steady at the point, averaging about 4 assists a night. The chemistry between those two is what usually determines if the Hornets win by 10 or lose a heartbreaker.
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The Home Court Advantage
Playing at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome is a weird experience for visiting teams. It's not the biggest arena in the world, but the acoustics are wild. When the students are out in full force, it’s loud. Really loud. That's why the home games against Alcorn State (which they won 81-66 on January 12) are so vital. You cannot afford to drop home games in the SWAC if you want to finish in the top four.
Navigating the SWAC Standings
Right now, the conference is a mess. In a good way.
Prairie View A&M and Arkansas-Pine Bluff jumped out to early leads, but Alabama State is sitting right in the thick of that middle pack with a 2-2 conference record as of mid-January. The preseason polls had the Hornets picked to finish 4th, which felt about right given the roster turnover. Honestly, the gap between the 1st place team and the 9th place team in this league is paper-thin.
One week you look like a contender, the next you're struggling to score 60 points against a zone defense. It’s stressful. But that’s HBCU basketball.
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Watching the Games
If you can't make it to Montgomery, watching the alabama state basketball schedule unfold usually requires an ESPN+ subscription. Most of the SWAC games are streamed there. However, the conference has done a better job lately of getting games on linear TV.
The upcoming February 9th game against Southern is the one you want to circle. It’s the "Big Monday" of the SWAC. These games usually feature high-intensity play and some of the best coaching adjustments you'll see all year.
Actionable Steps for Hornets Fans
If you're trying to stay ahead of the curve and support the team, here is the best way to do it:
- Check the Official Site for Time Changes: TV networks (especially ESPNU) often flex game times with only a couple of weeks' notice. Don't rely on a printed schedule from November.
- Focus on the "Road Swing" Games: The Hornets often play back-to-back road games (like the Grambling/Southern trip). These are the "make or break" weekends for the standings.
- Monitor the Injury Report: With a rotation that relies heavily on 7 or 8 players, an ankle sprain to someone like JaSteven Walker (who has been incredibly efficient this year) can change the entire betting line.
- Download the SWAC App: It’s actually pretty decent for real-time score updates when the ESPN app lags behind on smaller conference games.
The road to Birmingham is always bumpy, but this Alabama State team has the veteran leadership to navigate it. Whether they can find enough scoring depth behind Anderson remains the biggest question mark of the season.
One thing is certain: come March, nobody is going to want to see the Hornets on their side of the bracket. They play too hard, and Madlock knows how to win in the postseason. Keep your eyes on those February home games; that's where the real season begins.