Star players have delivered big performances against the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff men’s basketball team over the past four games, and the trend continued Thursday night in Mississippi.
Jackson State guard Ken Evans Jr. led the Tigers past UAPB 89-84, leaving the Golden Lions’ postseason fate in doubt entering the regular season finale.
Evans scored 37 points and made seven of his team’s 11 3-pointers. He scored 25 points in the first half, giving Jackson State (14-16, 10-7 SWAC) a 56-40 halftime lead.
His big showing came after Mississippi Valley State guard Rayquan Brown scored 39 points in a loss to UAPB on March 2. Texas Southern guard PJ Henry scored 25 to lead TSU past UAPB on Feb. 26, two days after the Golden Lions overcame a 24-point night by Charles Lane Jr. to beat Prairie View A&M.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
UAPB (13-17, 8-9) outplayed Jackson State in the second half but couldn’t finish the comeback. The Golden Lions trimmed the Jackson State lead to 87-84 with 2:24 remaining but did not score again.
Evans missed two free throws which could have sealed it for Jackson State in the final seconds, but the rebound went out of play. After review, the officials ruled it had last touched a Golden Lion, allowing Jackson State to draw another foul. Chase Adams hit both free throws, then Evans stole the UAPB inbounds pass to end the game. Adams’ late free throws put him at 10 points, making him the only Tiger besides Evans to reach double digits.
The Golden Lions combined to make 16 3-pointers, the most this season against a Division I foe. They had previously matched or exceeded that number against three non-NCAA opponents.
UAPB guard Joe French led the Golden Lions with 28 points. Kylen Milton scored 21, and Rashad Williams added 19.
Turnovers haunted UAPB in the first half. The Golden Lions gave the ball away 10 times, which led to 11 Jackson State points. The Tigers committed just one turnover in the first half. UAPB cut down on the turnovers in the second half, committing three while forcing seven. The Golden Lions only managed 3 points off those seven Jackson State turnovers.
UAPB shot 50 percent from the field in the second half while holding Jackson State to 21 percent.
Tournament clinching scenarios
UAPB enters Saturday’s regular season finale at Alcorn State, a team on an eight-game winning streak, in a tie with Alabama A&M for seventh place with Alabama State one game behind. Both Alabama schools control the tiebreakers with UAPB, including a potential three-way tie.
Alabama A&M will host Southern, while Alabama State hosts Grambling State. UAPB can clinch a spot in next week’s SWAC tournament with a win or an Alabama State loss to Grambling.
If UAPB wins and Alabama A&M loses, the Golden Lions would earn the No. 7 seed. If UAPB and Alabama A&M both win, UAPB would be the No. 8 seed. UAPB could also earn the No. 8 seed with a loss if Alabama State also loses. If UAPB loses and Alabama State wins, UAPB would miss the tournament.