Whistles blew often in Saturday night’s game in Itta Bena, Miss., but the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff made enough free throws to survive on the road.
The UAPB men’s basketball team outlasted upset-minded Mississippi Valley State 83-77, picking up its second-straight win.
UAPB (10-11, 5-3 SWAC) made 28 of 41 free throws, while MVSU made 23 of 30.
The teams combined for 53 personal fouls and one technical foul. Although this wasn’t UAPB’s most efficient free throw shooting night, the shots made a big difference, as the scoring from the field was nearly identical. Both teams made 23 shots, with UAPB making nine 3-pointers to MVSU’s eight.
The Golden Lions didn’t score from the field in the final 7:26 of the game but made 14 free throws down the stretch.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
UAPB shot 48.9 percent from the field. MVSU (0-22, 0-9) attempted 25 more field goals than UAPB, but the Golden Lions held them to 31.9 percent.
UAPB guard Kylen Milton scored 19 points and collected 11 rebounds to lead the Golden Lions. Fellow guard Joe French scored 14 points with the help of four 3-pointers. Forward Caleb Stokes also scored 14, and guard Lonnell Martin Jr. finished with 13.
Milton shot 10 of 17 from the line. Martin, who had made 68 of 70 from the line this season entering the game, made 11 of 16 free throws.
The constant fouls led to two Golden Lions, French and forward Ismael Plet, fouling out. Stokes finished with four fouls. No Delta Devils fouled out, though four finished with four fouls.
Two MVSU players finished with 22 points apiece. Forward Arecko Gipson collected 10 rebounds for a double-double, and guard Danny Washington made five 3-pointers.
MVSU has yet to win a game this season, but this was the Devils’ fourth single-digit loss in SWAC play.
The Delta Devils scored first, a layup from Rayquan Brown, 25 seconds into the game, but they didn’t score again until the 14:25 mark of the first half. In the meantime, Milton tied the game at 2 from the line, Trejon Ware hit a layup to give UAPB the lead, and French hit a 3-pointer.
UAPB led the rest of the night.
The Golden Lions led by as much as 34-18 in the first half, but the Delta Devils closed the gap to 38-28 before Plet finished the half with a dunk.
UAPB held its largest lead, 54-36, with 15:57 remaining in the game, but MVSU then went on an 11-1 run.
The Delta Devils got as close as 79-75 with 1:11 remaining after a 3-pointer by Washington, but Ware and Martin made late free throws to save the win.
The Golden Lions have now won two-straight games. UAPB returns to action Monday at Prairie View A&M.