Montgomery, Alabama – The University of the Arkansas Pine Bluff men's basketball team earned a hard fought victory in a Southwestern Athletic Conference matchup against Alabama St on Monday night, 55-59 at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome.
The Golden Lions found themselves trailing 51-48 with 2:44 remaining in the game after Steve Rogers converted a layup for the Hornets (6-10, 1-3 SWAC). Trent Whiting would answered back with a reverse layup and a foul by Tony Armstrong for a three point play to tie the game at 51-51 with two minutes left. UAPB (3-14, 1-2 SWAC) would take the lead and not look back after a steal by Ghiavonni Robinson, who kicked the ball out to Marquise Cunningham for the layup.
Alabama St had a chance to go back in front or tie the game, but a leaping block by Trent Whiting gave the Golden Lions some cushion with Ghiavonni Robinson calmly converted both free throws to push the lead to four (57-53) with 18.2 seconds left in the game.
UAPB led by many as 10 points in the first half, but the second half proved to be a back-and-forth contest. There were eight lead changes in the final 11 minutes of the game. The Hornets led by four with 4:51 to play, but the Golden Lions were able to battle back and take the lead and seal the victory with a dunk by Thaddeus Handley.
UAPB shot 47.9 percent from the field, made 8-of-21 from three-point range and were 5-of-8 from the foul line. Ghiavonni Robinson poured in 15 points on 5-of-11 shooting from the field and he grabbed four rebounds. Marquise Cunningham chipped in nine points followed by Charles Jackson and Trent Whiting both with eight points and J'Breun Sprinkle who contributed seven points.
UAPB went hand in hand with Alabama St going inside, matching 26 of their points from the paint and outscoring the Hornets bench 22-9.
The Hornets shot 33.3 percent from the field, made 0-13 from three-point range and were 25-of-37 at the charity stripe. Tony Armstrong led the team with 20 points followed by Omile Chidozie who added nine.
UAPB are back in action on Saturday night for their home opener in the H.O. Clemmons Arena against Southern Jaguars at 7:30 p.m.
