Alcorn State returns to Southwestern Athletic Conference play Monday at home against Grambling. The Braves, 2-0 in SWAC action, host Jackson State two days later. Alcorn has a 17-home game winning streak dating back to the 1997-98 season.

Tip-off for this week’s two games at the Davey Whitney Complex is 7:30 p.m.

Alcorn returns to conference play with a 5-5 overall record.

&uot;I&160;made the statement that if we were 6-5 or 5-6 we would be pretty pleased about where we are going,&uot; said Alcorn coach Davey Whitney. &uot;I&160;think we are going to be a force to be reckoned with in our conference if we can play well, cut down on the mistakes we are making and play as a team.&uot;

Whitney has a career record of 501-308.

Grambling, which is led by first-year head coach Larry Wright, is 1-12, losing its first two conference games.

The Tigers are coming off a 98-59 loss to Memphis.

Grambling is led by 6-foot-7, 265-pound center Chris Thomas, who is averaging 16.3 points and 7.5 rebounds.

The Braves are coming off their worst loss of the season, falling to Arkansas 102-59. A contributing factor in Alcorn’s loss was 36 turnovers, which led to 50 of the Razorbacks’ points.

Sophomore Marcus Fleming of Fayette posted his second double-double of his career against the Hogs with 15 points and 12 rebounds.

&uot;When your point guard (Tremayne Chambers) makes 12 turnovers, then you know you are in trouble,&uot; Whitney said. &uot;As hard as we’ve worked on the press, I thought we would have done a better job.&uot;