ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Junior guard Lazabian Jackson, just two games back after an ankle sprain, had his best game of the season for Arkansas-Pine Bluff on Tuesday night.
Jackson scored 23 points and made two steals, but it wasn’t enough for the Golden Lions as 18th-ranked Michigan took a 63-50 victory in front of 9,005 at Crisler Arena and an ESPNU audience. It’s the first time this season UAPB played on national television.
The final score could have been worse for the Lions (1-6), but they played a more competitive second half after trailing 37-17 at halftime. They led 6-5 before giving up a 27-2 run for their biggest deficit of the game.
“We just started off so slow shooting the basketball,” UAPB coach George Ivory said. “We had a very cold night, but one thing I was very impressed was how we came out the second half and we competed.”
UAPB shot 35.8 percent from the floor (19 for 53) for the game, but was 41.2 percent (7 for 17) from the 3-point line. Michigan was 44 percent from the field (22 for 50) and 50 percent (13 for 26) from the arc.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Jackson, a junior transfer, surpassed his previous season high of 13 points at Air Force on Saturday. He missed the two games before with an injury he sustained in UAPB’s only victory of the season against Florida International on Nov. 21.
Against Michigan, Jackson hit 6 of 11 3-point baskets and was 7 of 15 overall from the field. He also had four rebounds.
Ivory said Jackson was motivated by his defensive effort against Wolverines guard Tim Hardaway Jr., who was held to eight points.
Fellow guard Savalace Townsend played the entire game and tallied 15 points and three steals. The Lions’ next two scorers, Clay Johnson and Mitchell Anderson, each had four points.
Evan Smotrycz led the Wolverines (8-2) with 16 points and eight rebounds, going 3 for 4 from behind the arc. Reigning Big Ten Freshman of the Week Trey Burke had 15 points.
“I think our guys came out and showed how good they can be,” Ivory said. “We never stopped playing. They competed all the way through. I think this will help us out down the road.”
Michigan, of the Big Ten, was the first ranked team and second from a Power-Six conference (Auburn of the Southeastern Conference was the first Nov. 28) that UAPB faced this season. After Thursday’s outing at Akron, UAPB will take on DePaul and Cincinnati, both from the Big East, before a week-long break for Christmas.