Alabama St. shuts out Texas Southern in 2nd half, wins 23-16

HOUSTON -- Darryl Pearson Jr . threw a pair of touchdown passes and Alabama State shut out winless Texas Southern in the second half for a 23-16 victory on Saturday. Pearson finished with 126 yards passing and connected with Palmer Graham on an 8-yard touchdown pass just before halftime to pull the Hornets within a touchdown, 16-10. Pearson threw a 67-yard pass to Willis White for the go-ahead score to end the third quarter. Hunter Hanson added field goals of 35, 28, and 40 yards for Alabama State (1-5, 1-2 Southwestern Athletic Conference) Texas Southern's (0-6, 0-2) best chance to tie it came in its final drive, when Dominic DeLira moved them to the Alabama State 14. But TJ Presley intercepted a pass in the end zone on a fourth-and-10 play with 52 seconds left. --- More AP college football: http://collegefootball.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-Top25