3-pointers lead to UAPB win over Grambling
The SWAC’s best defense couldn’t stop the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff’s shooters from bouncing back Monday night.
The UAPB men’s basketball team defeated Grambling State 86-70 on the road with one of its better shooting performances this season.
UAPB (9-11, 4-3 SWAC) made 14 of 32 attempts from 3-point range, shot 47.1% from the field and made 24 of 28 free throws in a game that was never in doubt in the second half.
Golden Lions guard Kylen Milton finished with 26 points and 9 rebounds after making three 3-pointers. He also made 13 of his 15 free throw attempts. Fellow guard Joe French finished with 23 points after making seven 3-pointers. Forward Ismael Plet scored 14 and guard Lonnell Martin Jr. scored 13 with two 3-pointers.
The hot shooting performance came two days after Southern held UAPB to four 3-pointers on 20 attempts in an 80-66 Jaguars win in Baton Rouge.
Grambling (8-12, 5-2) brought the SWAC’s best defense into this game. The Tigers entered the night holding conference opponents to 57.7 points per game. They were also the best 3-point defense in the league, holding opponents to 26.9% shooting from deep.
Instead it was the Tigers’ offense that struggled to score against UAPB’s defense, which entered the game ranked 11th. Grambling shot 39% from the field and 28.6% from 3-point range. The Tigers finished with eight 3-pointers after making one in the first half.
GSU guard Tra’Michael Moton led the Tigers with 26 points and made four 3-pointers.
The Tigers held UAPB scoreless for the first 2:14 of the game before the Golden Lions’ offense came to life. Martin hit a 3-pointer to give UAPB a 3-2 lead, and French hit another 29 seconds later. UAPB made four of its five attempts from beyond the arc to take a 14-9 lead.
UAPB missed its next four 3-pointers before French hit his third with 11:40 to go in the half. After French made his fifth, Plet threw down a dunk and drew a foul. He completed the 3-point play to give UAPB a commanding 37-17 lead, but Grambling finished the first half on a 6-0 run, including a buzzer-beating layup by Jourdan Smith, who finished with 15 points.
The Golden Lions rebuilt their lead with an 8-0 run in the first 2 minutes of the half, including 3-pointers by French and Milton on UAPB’s first two possessions. UAPB built its lead to as big as 77-55 and cruised the rest of the night. The Golden Lions didn’t attempt a 3-pointer in the final 9:28 of the game, but they didn’t need to because Grambling never threatened their big lead down the stretch.
UAPB has won four of its past five games. This win plus Alabama State’s 56-55 loss at Texas Southern puts UAPB one game back of first place in the SWAC standings.
The Golden Lions are in a four-way tie for fourth place, with Texas Southern half a game ahead. GSU and Alabama State remain tied for first despite both losing Monday.