PINE BLUFF, Ark. – Arkansas-Pine Bluff used an 18-0 run to take control and defeat the Alcorn State University men's basketball program 73-62 Monday at H.O. Clemmons Arena.
The Braves (8-17, 4-9 SWAC) led 21-20 at the 4:18 mark of the first half when UAPB (11-15, 8-5 SWAC) closed out the half with a 9-0 run. The Golden Lions then went on another 9-0 spurt to begin the second half to catapult ahead 38-21.
The Braves, who went through another cold night shooting from long-range, couldn't get the deficit back down into single-figures the rest of the way.
Junior
Maurice Howard bounced back from Saturday and shot 3-for-4 from long range. He netted a team-high 13 points. Senior
Reginal Johnson and junior
Devon Brewer registered 10 points apiece.
UAPB shot 20-for-22 (.909) from the free throw line. Shaun Doss was 12-for-12 at the line and scored a game-high 25 points.
It was tight early as the teams were tied 9-9 after five minutes. After a free throw by junior Deshaw Andrews put the Braves up by one, the Golden Lions scored the next seven points to lead 16-10 at the 12:29 mark.
Down 20-12, Alcorn responded with its best stretch of the game. It started with an old-fashion three-point play by Brewer, followed by a lay-up by junior
Alonzo Campbell. Howard then knocked down a pair of free throws and Andrews converted a lay-up to cap a 9-0 run and put the Braves back ahead 21-20 with 4:18 remaining.
However, the Braves went on a drought offensively and didn't score the rest of the half. A three-pointer by Charles Jackson sparked a 9-0 run for the Golden Lions at the end of the period to grab a 29-21 edge.
Alcorn couldn't buy a bucket early in the second. UAPB took advantage and extended their edge to 38-21 after another 9-0 spurt to make it 38-21 with 16:17 to go.
Although the Braves couldn't get momentum back on their side until the very end, they continued to show fight. Trailing 70-51, they went on an 8-0 run which included a three-pointer by Howard and a lay-up by Crosby to get it down to 70-59 with 59 seconds left.
Alcorn returns home Saturday when it hosts Alabama State for a 5:30 p.m. tip. The Braves are 8-3 at home this year where they've outscored the opposition 822-662.
NOTES
- Alcorn is now 6-2 vs. the Golden Lions under head coach
Montez Robinson. In four seasons, Robinson hoists a 37-30 SWAC record.
- The Braves entered the game leading the SWAC in free throw percentage with a .682 mark. They were 11-for-14 (.786) in the game. Johnson and senior
Khari Jabriel Allen were both 3-for-3.
- Howard is up to 79 made three-pointers this year and holds the single-season school record. He was right on par with his league-leading 3.3 three-pointers made per game. It was his 39th career double-figure scoring game and 17th this year. Howard logged 40 minutes for the eighth time this season. He's now 32-for-34 (.941) from the free throw line this year.
- With 10 points, Johnson is up to 1,274 in his career. It was his 67th career double-figure scoring game and 12th this year. He secured a team-high five rebounds.
- Brewer reached double-figures for the third time in the last four games, eighth time this year and 14th time in his career.
- UAPB's McKnight entered the contest scoring a league-leading 22.3 points per game. Alcorn limited him to 12 points.
Quoting Alcorn head coach Montez Robinson
Opening Statement
"We started the game on-point defensively. We were taking away UAPB's initial action and making it hard for McKnight. What was hurting us was the offensive glass. UAPB was getting too many second-chance points in the first half. We always talk about guys who normally don't score and how they play against us, and tonight they were getting too many opportunities. We also turned the ball over too much which led to their scoring. Our first half drought came because of us giving up offensive rebounds and turning it over."
On Alcorn not getting offensive rebounds
"UAPB was doing the things that we preach to our guys. We wanted to get offensive rebounds and only allow the other team to get one shot at the basket. Tonight, it was the opposite. We were more aggressive in the second half, but it got away from us late in the first. The game plan was solid but we got whooped on the glass and made careless turnovers. That's about focus and effort."
On slowing down McKnight
"We wanted to make everything tough for him, and for the most part we did a pretty good job. It was Doss that hurt us. He's a guy that only averages about 11 points but he scored 25. That goes back to what we said before about guys playing above their averages and why it's happening. It's frustrating because we did such a good job on one guy but terrible on another."
On Alcorn making a push at the end
"It's hard to get back in it against UAPB because they play at a slower pace. They aren't going to run up and down the floor and push it. We went on a run late because we were able to force some turnovers and make some shots. Though, the deficit just got too far away from us."
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