For the second straight game, the previously red-hot University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff men’s basketball team fell on the road Monday night.
Alabama A&M defeated UAPB 82-70 at the AAMU Event Center in Huntsville, Ala., erasing the Golden Lions’ lead on the Bulldogs in the SWAC standings.
AAMU (15-11, 8-5 SWAC) shot 51.1% from the field, the second-highest rate any team has shot against the Golden Lions this season.
The Bulldogs’ 82 points were the second-most UAPB had allowed to a SWAC opponent in regulation this season, only behind the 83 AAMU scored in Pine Bluff during a Golden Lion win on Jan. 3.
Four Bulldogs reached double figures, led by senior guard Kintavious Dozier with 20 points and 10 rebounds.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Redshirt junior guard Koron Davis also scored 20. The Bulldogs combined to make 28 of 32 free throws.
UAPB (11-15, 8-5) shot 39.1% from the field and made eight three-pointers while shooting 12 of 16 from the line.
The Golden Lions’ seven turnovers were tied for their second fewest in a game this season, but UAPB couldn’t match AAMU’s offense despite protecting the ball.
Senior guard Alex Mirhosseini scored a season-high 26 points after making a season-high six three-pointers.
Senior forward Jaquan Scott added 21 points, but only four other players scored.
Senior guard Quion Williams finished with a season-low 4 points after making 2 of his 15 shots, though he contributed eight rebounds and six assists.
He had scored 12 points or more in each of his past 14 games and had only been held to single digits twice this season.
The game featured 13 lead changes and eight ties, but UAPB never led by more than 2 points.
Scott gave UAPB a 34-33 lead with a 3-point play with 18:37 to play, then again put the Golden Lions ahead 44-43 with 14:59 to go.
Dozier responded with a three-pointer 28 seconds later, and the Bulldogs led the rest of the way.
UAPB cut the deficit to 65-59 with 5:44 to play, but AAMU followed with an 11-2 run and kept the lead in double figures from there.
UAPB entered the weekend 4-1 on the road in SWAC play but lost to Alabama State on Saturday before Monday’s defeat. The Golden Lions, which previously stood alone in second place, are now in a four-way tie with AAMU, Southern and Jackson State.
This weekend’s losses come with an extra sting considering SWAC leader Bethune-Cookman went 0-2 in Mississippi.
UAPB could have finished the weekend tied for first had the Golden Lions beaten the two Alabama programs, two teams UAPB beat at home at the start of SWAC play.