ITTA BENA, Miss. - The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff started off the new year with something it had been looking for throughout the end of 2017, a victory. The Golden Lions defeated Mississippi Valley State University by the score of 80-71 at R.W. Harrison HPER Complex on New Year's Day. UAPB was led by Martaveous McKnight who finished with a game-high 23 points on 7-of-15 shooting from the field as well as 3-for-3 from downtown and 6-of-8 from the charity stripe.

With the win, UAPB (1-14, 1-0 SWAC) snapped a 14-game losing streak. In an aggressive game that had over 50 fouls, the Golden Lions produced four scorers in double figures including Charles Jackson who filled up the stat sheet for the Golden Lions as he finished with 14 points, four boards, five assists, and three steals in 37 minutes of action while teammate Travon Harper scored 12 points, shooting 4-for-5 from the field to go along with two rebounds and one block. 

Cameron Posey chipped in with 10 points, five boards and two assists in 28 minutes. Mississippi Valley's Dante Scott and Jordan Evans both finished with 15 points apiece in the loss. As a team UAPB shot 50 percent from the field for the game while its opponent shot 37 percent. The Golden Lions were red shot from behind the arc, nailing 8-of-15 three-pointers (53 percent) while the Devils (0-14, 0-1 SWAC) shot a dismal 5-of-22 (23 percent).

The Golden Lions basketball team will return to action on Saturday, January 6 as it travels to Huntsville, Ala. to face Alabama A&M University in SWAC action. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.