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Saturday night’s battle between the final teams in the SWAC without a conference win went to the visitors, who scored well beyond their season average.
Mississippi Valley State defeated the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff 79-76 at H.O. Clemmons Arena to claim its first Division I victory of the season.
UAPB coach Solomon Bozeman said the Golden Lions started the game lethargic.
“We didn’t set the tone in our gym,” Bozeman said. “We came out flat, and we got them going. … We have to find a way to play with more grit, more toughness. It’s got to be more personal to us.”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
MVSU (3-19, 1-8 SWAC) came into the game averaging 55.9 points per game. The Delta Devils had failed to reach 60 in their previous five games and had only scored more than 67 points in a game once, which came against a non-Division I foe.
Valley came into Pine Bluff and shot 51.1 percent from the field, made 6 of 15 from 3-point range and made 25 of 33 free throws.
“Defense is just will and just having grit and having a level of toughness and pride,” Bozeman said. “That’s what defense is, and right now, we don’t play with that. That’s on our staff and on myself as a leader. I gotta get our guys to defend. There’s no reason. Hats off to Mississippi Valley, but there’s no reason they should come in our gym and score 79 points.”
UAPB (3-18, 0-8) had its chances at the end of the game. The Golden Lions cut the deficit to 63-61 with 7:11 to play with a 9-1 run. After MVSU junior guard Arthur Tate hit a pair of free throws, UAPB guard Doctor Bradley scored the next 5 points to give UAPB a 66-65 lead, its first since 5-3.
Tate hit a jumper on the next MVSU possession, but UAPB guard Christian Moore converted a 3-point play opportunity to restore the UAPB lead, 69-67, with 4:38 left. Tate then scored the next 6 points, and Valley led the rest of the way.
UAPB forced a turnover after a Dante Sawyer free throw and had a chance to tie the game at 74, but the ball rimmed out. The Golden Lions cut it to 2 points twice, but Valley made its free throws to stay ahead.
After MVSU forward Jair Horton made one of two from the line with 6.2 left, UAPB had one last shot. Caleb Jones fired off a would-be game-tying 3-pointer, but it hit off the back of the rim as time expired.
Bradley led the Golden Lions with 29 points, nine rebounds, four assists and four steals, all team highs. This was his highest-scoring game since the opening weekend of SWAC play, when he made his surprise debut.
Bozeman said being a team’s No. 1 player is new for Bradley, who came off the bench at his previous school, New Mexico State.
“He’s never been face guarded before,” Bozeman said. “You’re the guy. You don’t accept getting face guarded. Just constantly teaching him to still be aggressive. Even if they face guard you, nobody should keep you from getting the ball. That just doesn’t happen with really good players. So, it’s a learning process for him.”
Tate scored 20 points with eight rebounds, both team highs. Four other Delta Devils reached double figures, including Horton with 14. Donovan Sanders scored 10 points with nine assists.