One of the better shooting performances of the season faltered for five critical minutes late in the second half, costing the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
Texas Southern came from behind to defeat the UAPB men’s basketball team 77-70 at H.O. Clemmons Arena.
UAPB (12-16, 7-8 SWAC) led 60-50 with 7:57 remaining. The Golden Lions had led since late in the first half. The Tigers had trimmed the lead to 51-48, but UAPB got a dunk from guard Kylen Milton and two 3-pointers from guard Joe French to rebuild its lead.
Texas Southern (12-14, 10-5) went on a 16-0 run, started by a 3-pointer from guard PJ Henry. Forward Kenny Hunter gave TSU the lead with a layup, and the Tigers led the rest of the game.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
UAPB coach Solomon Bozeman gave the Tigers credit.
“I thought they did a good job guarding us down the stretch,” Bozeman said. “When you’re trying to win a game down the stretch, you gotta be able to get stops. I just thought, man, we couldn’t do a stop. I thought PJ Henry made some tough shots. He made tough shots over our best defender, so credit to Texas Southern. They came in here, and they took it.”
French hit a 3-pointer to end the run with 2:38 remaining. It was UAPB’s first made field goal since his previous 3-pointer, which came with 9:14 remaining. Henry and Deon Stroud made 3-pointers for TSU to keep the Tigers in front.
UAPB had the ball in the final minute down 72-67 with a chance to make it a one-possession game. Instead, TSU guard Jaylen Wysinger stole the ball and dunked in transition to seal the TSU victory. UAPB guard Rashad Williams hit a 3-pointer with 4.3 seconds left, but there wasn’t enough time for UAPB to get any closer.
TSU’s run came after UAPB guard Trejon Ware picked up his fourth foul and came out of the game. He went on to foul out. Bozeman said not having him in the game made a huge difference.
“He makes everything go,” Bozeman said. “Five assists tonight. Zero turnovers. He’s our point guard. He makes it go for us, so that was a huge stretch. As soon as he went out the game, it just instantly changed.
Henry led TSU with 25 points. Jonathan Cisse scored 17, Wysinger scored 12, and Hunter added 10. The Tigers shot 2 of 16 from 3-point range in the first half but made 7 of 12 in the second.
The second-half collapse wasted a tremendous shooting performance by the Golden Lions. UAPB made 14 3-pointers, one shy of their season high in conference play. French made six, finishing with 20 points. Milton also scored 20. No other Golden Lion surpassed 9 points.
French said the Golden Lions played well to get the lead but perhaps should have looked for better shots once they got it.
“I think we were solid defensively, and we got good shots on offense, and we really shared the ball,” French said. “I think down the stretch where they went on a run, we could have been better with our possessions and valuing our possessions, being better defensively.”
UAPB guard Lonnell Martin Jr. attempts a layup. (Special to the Commercial/William Harvey)