Box Score HOUSTON, Texas - The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Golden Lions scored 44 second half points en route to a 71-65 victory over Southern University in the semifinal round of the 2018 Southwestern Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Tournament at Delmar Fieldhouse. With the win, UAPB advances to the SWAC championship game and will face the winner of the Texas Southern University/Prairie View A&M game tomorrow at 4 p.m. while Southern was eliminated from the tournament. The game will be televised on ESPN 2.

UAPB (14-19) came out the gate and led 19-11 before Southern stormed back with a 19-4 run to take a 30-23 lead after an Emanuel Sheperd lay up. The Golden Lions eventually cut the deficit to three points right before halftime after Charles Jackson knocked down three free throws to end the half.

Both teams went back and forth in the second half before SWAC Player of the Year and Newcomer of the Year Martaveous McKnight put his team on his back and scored nine straight points to help the Golden Lions pull away for good. McKnight finished with a game-high 28 points on 10-of-15 shooting from the field and also grabbed a game-high eight rebounds to go along with two assists and one steal. Teammate Travon Harper finished with 23 points played great down the stretch in place of Trent Steen and Terrance Banyard who both fouled out of the game. Harper shot 8-of-13 from the field and also added five rebounds, two assists and one steal in the win. McKnight and Harper combined for 51 of the team's 71 points on the night.

Southern (15-18) was led by Eddie Reese who finished with a team-high 17 points on 5-of-11 shooting from the field, including two 3-pointers. Jared Sam produced 13 points while Sheperd chipped in with 11 points in the loss.

As a team UAPB shot 55 percent (24-of-44) from the field and held its opponent to 40 percent (20-of-50). The Golden Lions hit 22-of-28 (79 percent) from the charity stripe while Southern made 22-of-35 (63 percent) free throws.

UAPB lost the rebound battle 31-26 and shot just 1-for-7 from downtown. The Jaguars shot 3-for-14 from three-point land and was outscored 44-35 in the second half.