Golden Lions roar back from 19 down and stun Jackson State 60-58

[Seminole Indian]

PINE BLUFF, Ark. - The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Golden Lions basketball team just about surrendered first place in the Southwestern Athletic Conference just one week after landing the top spot in the SWAC as it trailed by 19 points to Jackson State with less than 11 minutes left to play before it roared back in stunning fashion behind an electrifying to beat the Tigers 60-58 at H.O. Clemmons Arena. Junior guard Martaveous McKnight scored the game-winner with two seconds left on the clock after being held scoreless for the first 34 minutes of the ball game. It was his fourth game-winning basket in eight conference victories for UAPB.

UAPB was led by freshman Terrence Banyard (pronounced BAN-yard) who finished with a game-high 16 points on 5-of-7 shooting from the field. He only missed one single free throw all night (6-for-7) and grabbed four rebounds in the victory while McKnight finished with 14 points on 4-of-10 shooting from the field. He dished out five assists, grabbed four rebounds and had zero turnovers for the Golden Lions.

Jackson State (9-13, 6-3 SWAC) got off to a hot start and led by 14 points after just 10 minutes of play in Pine Bluff thanks to great team basketball. However, UAPB hung around and tried to make a comeback in the first half, yet still trailed by 15 points at the half because of the fact that Jackson State scored twice as many first-half baskets (16) as UAPB (. Chace Franklin and Darius Austin both finished with a game-high 16 points apiece for the Tigers, who fall to 6-3 in SWAC play.

Sharp shooter Charles Jackson nailed 3-of-4 three-pointers for UAPB (8-15, 8-1 SWAC), who now enjoy a two-game lead in the SWAC Men's Basketball standings after the first half of conference games. Jackson finished with six boards and one steal while fellow Golden Lion Travon Harper scored eight points. grabbed one rebound and had one block. Jordan McNair came off the bench to provide a much needed second half spark for the Golden Lions as he scored a three pointer, stole two passes and dished out an assist before exiting the game with an injury.

As a team the Golden Lions lost the rebound battle 35-22 and had a total of just nine assists, but forced 16 Jackson State turnovers while only committing nine. UAPB hit 15-of-21 free throws (71 percent) while its opponent shot 7-for-12 (58 percent) from the charity stripe.

The Golden Lions outscored Jackson State 36-19 in the second half.

UAPB returns to action on Saturday, February 3 as it hosts Alabama A&M in SWAC play. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at H.O. Clemmons Arena. On January 6 UAPB won the first meeting between these two teams 69-62 in Huntsville, Alabama, for its second victory of the season.

http://www.uapblionsroar.com/news/2018/1/30/mens-basketball-golden-lions-roar-back-from-19-down-and-stun-jackson-state-60-58-to-stay-atop-swac.aspx