Head Coach George Ivory and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Golden Lions basketball club held their second home game of the 2016-17 season Monday night. The Golden Lions played host to the Blue Mountain College Rams out of Blue Mountain, Mississippi. Throughout the game, including the three ovetimes, it was close, but Blue Mountain outlasted UAPB for a 77-74 win.
Blue Mountain is a private liberal arts college, and they entered the game with one loss on the season. The Rams are led by Head Coach J.D. Parker, and they are a program on the rise.
Both teams got off to a sluggish start out of the gate, and that was mainly because the defense by both teams was solid. The Rams were playing a tight man-to-man defense, and the Golden Lions were using their length running a 2-3 zone.
With 12:50 to play in the first half, Ghiovanni Robinson scored the first points of the game. However, the Rams responded on their next trip down with an inside bucket from Little Rock product Anfernee Floyd.
At the second media timeout, the score was 2-2, with UAPB shooting 1-5 from the field, and Blue Mountain shooting 1-9 from the field.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
During that under 12 timeout, Ivory emphasized that his team needed to push the pace, and that led to more production. The Golden Lions also turned up their defensive intensity, forcing the Rams to committ consecutive turnovers.
However, the Rams began to match the high pace of UAPB, and Denio Chirindza connected on a three pointer to tie the game with seven minutes to play in the first half. Shortly afterwards, the Rams took their first lead of the game behind a couple of free throws.
UAPB quickly responded with a couple free throws of their own, and with three minutes to play in the first half, Joe’Randle Toliver connected on a three to take a six point lead. On the other end, Floyd responded with a lay up and drew a foul. Floyd made the free throw, pulling the Rams within five points heading into halftime.
To begin the second half, the Rams’ Conner Helvig connected on a mid-range jumper to get the Rams going. Then, after an offensive board and putback by Floyd, the Rams opened up a 6-2 run. On their next offensive possession, Chris English hit a deep three to pull the Rams within one with 13:50 to play in the second half.
The Rams would then establish a low post prescene with their big man Adam Fleming. Behind a couple buckets from Fleming, the Rams jumped out to a five point lead with 11:30 to play in the second half.
At that point, the Golden Lions defense tightend up and the full court pressure allowed them a couple break away baskets. The defense led to offense, and with 10 minutes to play in the second half, UAPB held a slim lead.
After a couple of sloppy minutes from the Rams, Parker called a much needed timeout. Coming out of the timeout, the Rams executed an under-the-basket inbounds play to even the score. The Rams then forced a turnover, and Conner Helvig made the Golden Lions pay. Helvig connected on a three-point basket, giving the Rams the lead with 5:53 to play in the second.
Both teams would then string together a few defensive stops before Robinson was fouled on a three-point attempt. Coming up big at the line, Robinson hit all three free throws to tie the game 41-41.
Toliver would then come up big for the Golden Lions by knocking down a three pointer with 2:39 to play. However, the Rams followed that three with a couple buckets of thier own. Justin McClellon pulled up and hit a jumper, and the Rams’ defense came down the court and got a steal on an errant pass by UAPB.
With under two minutes in regulation, Floyd got another offensive rebound and put back to put the Rams up by three. UAPB’s Jaquan Lynch would then put his stamp on the game. Lynch knocked down a mid-ranger, and after a UAPB defensive stop, Lynch got to the line and hit two meaningful free throws.
However, the Rams had one last shot, and they took full advantage. With the clock expiring, Conner Helvig pulled up for three and knocked it down, making it 50-50 and sending this one into overtime.
Both teams opened the overtime period trading baskets. Chris English then knocked down a three pointer to give the Rams the lead but it wouldn’t be for long. Robinson received a cross court pass and splashed a three of his own to give UAPB a one point advantage with 2:18 to play.
Next, the Rams ran their offensive set and it resulted in a wide open jump shot by Chase Brittingham that gave them a one point lead. The Rams then got a defensive stop, and Chris English was able to draw contact earning himself a trip to the charity strike. However, English came up empty at the line, leaving the Golden Lions a chance to win the game.
Charles Jackson pulled up right inside of the three point line, but he hit front iron, forcing the Golden Lions to foul. This go around, English went 1/2 from the line, giving the Rams a two point advantage.
With 8.8 seconds to play, Robinson drove the ball down court aggressively to the rim and he was able to draw a foul. Robinson connected on both free throws to make it 58-58, sending this one into a second overtime.
To begin the second overtime period, the Golden Lions elected to stay in their 2-3 zone even though the Rams shot the ball well against that formation in the first overtime. On the Rams’ first possession of the second overtime, they grabbed three offensive boards but still came away empty.
After an inadvertent foul by UAPB, the Rams were awarded three free throws, but they only hit 1/3. After both teams traded baskets, Travon Harper had a chance to tie the game at the line and he knocked his free throw down to make it 64-64 with 1:02 to play.
The Golden Lions’ defense then made one of their biggest stops of the game, and Ivory called timeout to set something up. However, UAPB came up empty and on the scramble for the rebound English was fouled. English went 1/2 from the line, but that was good enough to give the Rams a one-point lead with 13.6 to play. Floyd drew contact and made it to the free throw line where he went 1/2 to give the Rams a 66-64 advantage.
However, this one wasn’t over just yet as UAPB’s Trent Steen converted on a put back basket with no time left in the second overtime.
As big as Steen was to end the second overtime, he missed four consecutive free throws to open up the third overtime period. Blue Mountains’ Helvig then knocked down a three pointer to give the Rams the momentum they needed. A couple plays later English knocked down another big three to extend the Rams lead to 72-68.
However, the Golden Lions didn’t quit, and after a couple free throws by Robinson, the score was all tied a 72. Both teams would then trade baskets before the Rams would put the dagger in this one. Floyd got an offensive rebound and he drew contact that placed him at the line where he went 1/2. UAPB then turned the ball over on their next possession and Blue Mountain came away with a close win.