MONDAY’S STATE ROUNDUPS
SWAC MEN ALABAMA A&M 74, UAPB 69
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Jalen Johnson drilled a 15-footer with 3:45 left in the game to snap a 58-58 tie and propel Alabama A&M (7-16, 6-7 Southwestern Athletic Conference) in front of a raucous crowd at Elmore Gymnasium.
Anjay Cortez had 21 points and 9 rebounds, and Johnson followed suit with 17 points and 5 rebounds as the Bulldogs managed to finally hold off UAPB (6-20, 4-9).
The game had 11 ties and 13 lead changes, including nine in the second half. The Golden Lions were down 30-27 at halftime but surged ahead 52-51 with 8:12 remaining in the game on a dunk from Kylen Milton. But that would be the last time the Golden Lions would lead.
Johnson’s jumper nearly six minutes later led to a 6-0 run from the Bulldogs, who didn’t let UAPB draw any closer than four points for the remainder of the game.
Cameron Tucker also had 12 points while Myles Parker ended with 9 for Alabama A&M, which scored 40 points in the paint and collected 45 rebounds — 20 of which were on the offensive end.
Shawn Williams drilled six three-pointers and had a game-high 28 points for the Golden Lions. Dequan Morris scored 15 points and Milton tallied 10.
SUN BELT WOMEN UALR 88, CHAMPION CHRISTIAN 36
The University of Arkansas-Little Rock made easy work of Champion Christian on Monday night, holding the Tigers to 8-of-50 shooting at the Jack Stephens Center in Little Rock.
Five different players reached double figures for UALR (13-8), which got 16 points apiece from Raziya Potter and Azaria Robinson. Dariel Johnson grabbed 10 rebounds to go along with 11 points, giving the senior a third double-double this season — with all of them coming in the month of February.
Champion Christian (12-4) committed 25 turnovers and got 18 of its 36 points at the free-throw line, led by 11 from Destiny Gonzalez.
SWAC WOMEN ALABAMA A&M 56, UAPB 50
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — A rough second half cost the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff a chance at stealing a Southwestern Athletic Conference road victory Monday night.
UAPB (10-13, 6-7) hit 5 of 23 (21.7%) shots over the final two quarters, which allowed Alabama A&M (10-13, 8-5) to escape and beat the Golden Lions for the eighth time in a row.
Nigeria Jones scored 19 points, and Dariauna Lewis added 13 points and 18 rebounds for the Bulldogs, who took a 33-31 lead into halftime. Alabama A&M trailed 37-35 in the third quarter before finishing the period on an 11-3 run after UAPB missed seven of its last nine shots.
After Takaylyn Busby nailed a three-pointer on the Golden Lions’ first possession of the fourth quarter to get them within 46-43 with 9:42 left, UAPB went 1 of 11 (9.1%) from the field the rest of the game. The Golden Lions didn’t net another field goal until Zaay Green scored on a lay-up with eight seconds remaining. By that time, the Bulldogs had built a 56-48 lead.
Green had 20 points, 12 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals for UAPB, which was also outrebounded 50-32. Sade Hudson added 11 points for the Golden Lions.