A drive and a layup in the final seconds Monday undid a great shooting night by the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
The UAPB men’s basketball team fell 93-91 to Alabama State at the Dunn-Oliver Acadome in Montgomery, Ala.
Alabama State (6-9, 2-0) senior guard CJ Hines broke the 91-91 tie with 0.4 seconds to play to win it for the Hornets, who never led by more than 3 points. This came seconds after a game-tying layup by UAPB junior guard Christian Moore.
UAPB (3-12, 0-2 SWAC) shot 56.6 percent from the floor and made 14 of 29 attempts from 3-point range. The Golden Lions led by as much as 43-28 in the first half.
A 50-41 halftime advantage quickly disappeared as Alabama State began the second half on a 10-0 run. The Hornets hadn’t led since 2-0.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The teams traded the lead four more times in the second half. UAPB led for 32:23 of the game, but Alabama State led when it mattered thanks to Hines’ layup.
The Golden Lions led 85-81 after a dunk by junior guard Doctor Bradley, who joined the team for the spring semester and debuted Saturday with a 30-point performance in a loss at Alabama A&M. As of that dunk, Bradley had scored UAPB’s past 11 points.
Alabama State answered with a 7-0 run to take the lead before Raphael Dumont’s 3-pointer tied the game. A jumper by center Ubong Okon put Alabama State back in front.
Bradley followed up his grand debut by scoring 35 points with 7 rebounds and 7 assists. Moore scored 19 points after making five 3-pointers, all in the first half. Caleb Jones scored 15 for the Golden Lions after making five 3-pointers of his own, four of those in the second half.
Hines led ASU with 23 points. Amarr Knox scored 20, and three other Hornets scored between 11 and 13 points.
The Hornets shot 54.4 percent and made 12 of 29 attempts from 3-point range. ASU scored 19 points off 14 UAPB turnovers.
This loss ensures UAPB finishes the opening weekend of SWAC play 0-2 for the third straight season.