Break time is over — after 12 days.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff will take to the basketball court for the first time in almost two weeks tonight at the U.S. Air Force Academy. It won’t get much easier for UAPB (1-4), as it will look forward to playing three teams from Power-Six conferences (BCS conferences, in football terms) in its next four games, starting with the Big Ten’s Michigan on Tuesday in Ann Arbor.
The Golden Lions hope to have junior guard Lazabian Jackson in action for the first time since he injured his ankle in a Nov. 21 victory over Florida International. Jackson has been averaging 6.7 points per game in a starting role.
The Lions already are missing senior center Terrell Kennedy and sophomore guard Marcel Mosley to injuries. Kennedy (hand) is expected to return later this month, although a specific date wasn’t given, and Mosley (shin) won’t be available until January, according to coach George Ivory.
The Lions have not played since a 72-59 defeat at Auburn on Nov. 28, while the Falcons are coming off a 55-34 home win against Wright State on Wednesday. Air Force held Wright State to 19.6 percent field-goal shooting and allowed the fewest points in a game since holding Colorado College to 31 in December 2006.
Junior guard Michael Lyons has been a standout for the Falcons this season, earning MVP accolades in the inaugural All-Military Classic won by Air Force and leading his team against Wright State with 15 points.