Box Score MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. (Nov. 21) - The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff dropped a 59-46 decision to Valparaiso, here Friday afternoon at McGuirk Arena in their first game of the Central Michigan Tournament.

VU jumped took an early 9-2 lead on a pair of Vashil Fernandez free throws with 16:32 to go.

UAPB got back in the contest with a 7-3 run to cut VU's lead to 12-9 on a Tevin Hammond layup with 13:43 left in the game as the Golden Lion offense reeled off seven points in two minutes.

The Crusaders took a nine point lead with a 12-6 run with 6:07 left in the half on a Alex Peters made field goal, making the score 24-15 in favor of VU.

At the half, UAPB went into the half trailing VU, 35-26 as the Golden Lions concluded the first half with 14 points in the pain and 11 points from off bench.
UAPB finished the first half shooting 37.5 percent (9-of-24) from the field, while VU shot 54.2 percent (13-of-24).

In the second half, UAPB suffered a six minutes scoring drought as the Golden Lions did not score their first basket of the second half until the 14:37 mark on a Thaddeus Handley field goal.

The Golden Lions finished the first half shooting 37.8 percent (17-of-45), while the Crusaders shot 46.9 percent (23-of-49) percent.

UAPB (1-3) was led by Marcel Mosley with 10 point, followed by Chauncy Parker with nine points, while JoVaughn Love led team on the boards with five.

VU (3-1) had a pair of Crusaders to score in double figures with Peters scoring a game high 19 points and Fernandez adding 11.   Keith Carter led the team in assists with seven and the Crusaders had three players to finish the contest with seven rebounds for VU.

UAPB will return to action on Sunday, November 23 as they will take on the University of Maine at the McGuirk Arena in a 12:30 p.m. start in their final game of the CMU Tourney.