After four weeks with mixed results to begin SWAC play, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is seeking consistency in this weekend’s road trip.
The UAPB men’s basketball team will face Mississippi Valley State on the road Saturday, then travel to Prairie View A&M in a makeup game Monday. UAPB was originally scheduled to face the Panthers on Jan. 15, but the game was postponed due to winter weather. Monday was originally an open date for both teams.
The Golden Lions’ past two games could not have been more different. UAPB (9-11, 4-3 SWAC) lost 80-66 at Southern on Jan. 27 after shooting 20 percent from 3-point range. Two days later, UAPB made 14 3-pointers against the SWAC’s top scoring defense to beat Grambling State 86-70.
UAPB coach Solomon Bozeman said the rapid turnaround goes back to advice he received from Chris Douglas-Roberts, a former teammate from his time with the Texas Legends of the NBA G-League.
“He used to always tell me, ‘Instant amnesia,'” Bozeman said. “Just forget about it and move on to the next thing. I thought our guys did a really good job of moving on. As a result of that, you saw how we looked against Grambling on Monday. Super proud of our guys. The work they’ve been putting in is paying off.”
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The Golden Lions have generally had one of the top offenses and one of the weaker defenses in the SWAC, but not every conference game has reflected this. UAPB has exceeded 85 points twice but been held below 70 twice. Meanwhile, UAPB’s defense has held two opponents below 70 points but allowed three to reach or surpass 80.
Bozeman said UAPB needs more consistency.
“I just think it starts every day in practice,” Bozeman said. “We’ve gotta be dialed in, locked in, and the more consistent we are in practice, the more that we’ll be consistent in the games. So, just continue to have great practices, and I think we’re headed in the right direction.”
Despite the varying performances, the Golden Lions have won four of their past five games heading into their second-straight road weekend.
First up is MVSU (0-21, 0-8). Although winless, the Delta Devils have had some close calls, including a 54-46 loss at Grambling and a 54-51 home loss to Alabama State.
Monday, the Golden Lions will finally face Prairie View A&M (8-12, 3-4) in a previously postponed game. The Panthers will host rival Texas Southern on Saturday before turning their focus to UAPB.
The Panthers feature the SWAC’s top individual rebounder in conference play so far, senior forward Brian Myles. He is averaging 14.1 points and 10.9 rebounds per SWAC game and has collected 37.8 percent of the Panthers’ rebounds in SWAC games.
UAPB is the SWAC’s top defensive rebounding team. Junior forward Ismael Plet, who ranks fourth in the SWAC with eight rebounds per game, said he believes in his own abilities, no matter the opponent.
“I’ve been rebounding the ball well myself, and I’m a competitor,” Plet said. “They gotta be ready on Monday, because I’m coming, and my team is coming. So, that’s all I got to say on that. We’re going to box out. We’re going to gain rebounds, so I don’t think that should affect us much.”