This season, Arkansas-Pine Bluff has tried its hand at beating competition from the Southeastern Conference and the Big Ten. Tonight comes the first of two chances against Big East teams, when the Golden Lions play at DePaul.
For UAPB, it’s the fourth game in eight days, a stretch that can only help the Lions in the long run, coach George Ivory said Friday. They’re coming off an 87-64 loss at Akron on Thursday.
The Lions (1-7) have the next three days off before heading to Cincinnati to take on the Bearcats. But tonight in Chicago, finding their shooting touch will be key, as they have shot less than 36 percent from the floor the past four games and 37.2 percent for the season. Their opponents have hit 48.6 percent.
“That’s an area we’ve got to work out,” Ivory said. “We know everyone’s geared to stop Savalace (Townsend) and Lazabian (Jackson, UAPB’s two leading scorers). We got to do better concentrating at shooting the ball better. We have to match the other team’s intensity.”
Ivory also is looking for more production from his post men, led by Daniel Broughton’s 5.3 point-per-game average. The sophomore from Watson Chapel has been hampered by foul trouble this season.
Fourteen points separate DePaul (7-3) from being undefeated in coach Oliver Purnell’s second season at the helm. The Blue Demons lost to Minnesota and Ole Miss by a combined three points and fell to Milwaukee 87-76 on Dec. 5. Since then, DePaul has won three straight.
UAPB is riding a five-game losing streak, looking for its first win since defeating Florida International on Nov. 21.