UAPB Basketball Set To Host Grambling St.

1/30/2020 6:11:00 PM

The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff women's and men's basketball teams will be back at home at the H.O. Clemmons Arena this weekend as they host Grambling St. Saturday for High School Day and Jackson St. Monday for Athletic Academic Honors Night.

Saturday, the doubleheader is set for 5 p.m. with the women's game, followed by the men's game at 7:30 p.m. The UAPB Sports Network will have the live broadcast starting at 4:30 p.m. with Lions Roar Pregame on 99.3 FM The Beat, online at uaplionsroar.com, and on the free UAPB Athletics app.

Both women's and men's teams will be gearing up for a four-game home stretch.

The Lady Lions (3-14, overall 2-5 SWAC) gave 5-1 Texas Southern a big scare, losing a nailbiter 78-77 on the road.

UAPB will take on Grambling St. (2-16 overall, 2-5 SWAC), which is coming off a 61-46 loss to Jackson St. The Lady Tigers are led by Justice Coleman, who leads the team in scoring, averaging 13.1 ppg and rebounds, averaging 4.5 rpg.

"Grambling is a championship-caliber team and they are struggling right now, but their record doesn't define who they are," said first-year UAPB head coach Dawn Brown. "We are not going to take them lightly based on their record. We are going to come out and play with a lot of energy. The Lady Tigers are a team with strong guards, but I feel comfortable knowing that our guards will match up well with them."

After being down 18 points in the third quarter, UAPB went on a 28-12 run to take the lead at (77-76) with a three-pointer by junior Trasity Totten late in the game, but the Lady Tigers were able to come away with the win.

UAPB had four players score in double figures, led by senior Kyeonia Harris who chipped in 20 points and two steals. Totten added 14 points off the bench, followed by senior Noe'll Taylor with 14 points and two steals, and junior Jayla Atmore finished with 11 points and five steals.

Harris ranks ninth in the conference in scoring, averaging 11.4 ppg and sixth in the conference in assists, averaging 3.1 apg. The Lady Lions' defense ranks fourth in the conference in steals, with an average of 9.88 spg. UAPB has three players ranked in the top 12 in steals. Leading the pack is Taylor, averaging 2.2 spg, followed by junior Jayla Atmore, tied for 10^th averaging 2.1 spg, and Harris 12^th, averaging 2.0 spg. Freshman Nissa Sam-Grant ranks third in the conference in blocks, averaging 1.4 bpg, and ranks eighth in the conference in rebounds, averaging 5.3 rpg.

On the men's side, the Golden Lions (3-16 overall, 2-5 SWAC) gave Texas Southern a tough match down the stretch as they dropped a 68-57 road loss.

"The game against Grambling St. will be a very competitive matchup," said UAPB head coach George Ivory. "As a team, we just have to relax, hit our open shots and play our own game. We want the fans to come out and pack the house."

In the game versus the Tigers, the Golden Lions had two players scored in double-figures. Senior Marquell Carter led the way with 18 points and four rebounds, followed by junior Dequan Morris with 13 points and eight rebounds.

Carter, who leads the Golden Lions in rebounds, ranks 10^th in the conference, averaging 5.9 rpg. UAPB has three players ranked in the top 15 in blocked shots. Junior Markedric Bell ranks third, averaging 1.8 bpg, followed by junior Terrance Banyard, tied for sixth, averaging 0.8 bpg., and junior Artavious McDyess, tied for 13^th, averaging 0.6 bpg.

Grambling St. (9-11 overall, 3-4 SWAC) is on a four-game losing streak entering the contest this weekend, and is coming off a 71-53 defeat to Jackson St. The Tigers are led by Ivy Smith Jr., who leads the team in scoring averaging 14.0 ppg, and rebounds, averaging 8.0 rpg.

#UAPBLionsAreComing

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