After a tough series of road games, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff men’s basketball team returns home Monday for its final nonconference game.
UAPB will host Ecclesia College from Springdale at 7 p.m. at H.O. Clemmons Arena in its final tune-up before starting SWAC play next month.
UAPB (4-8) last played at home three weeks ago in an 85-60 win against Arkansas Baptist College. After a four-game road stretch which included three teams currently ranked in the top 11, a fourth home game against a non-NCAA opponent this season will provide the Golden Lions a good opportunity to get back on track before hosting Alabama A&M in January.
The Golden Lions’ top scorer, Kylen Milton, missed UAPB’s previous game, a 104-86 loss at South Florida on Tuesday. UAPB did not respond when asked about his status for this game.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Milton ranks 35th in the nation and best in the SWAC with 19.5 points per game. His scoring dipped some in his past two games against Gonzaga and Connecticut, scoring 23 total points in those two games after scoring 24 at Oklahoma and 25 against Arkansas Baptist.
His best performance this season came on opening night when he scored 34 points at Missouri.
Rashad Williams and Joe French led the Golden Lions in Milton’s absence last week. Williams ranks third in the SWAC with 18.8 points per game while leading the SWAC with 4.2 assists per game. French is scoring 16 points per game, sixth in the SWAC.
Lonnell Martin Jr. ranks second in the nation in free throw percentage. He has made 32 of 33 from the line, with the lone miss coming against USF.
UAPB enters this game looking to go 4-0 against in-state opponents. The Golden Lions previously defeated Champion Christian College 116-73, Central Arkansas 85-83 and Arkansas Baptist 85-60.
Ecclesia (3-9) plays in the National Christian College Athletic Association, like Champion Christian. The Royals are averaging 75.2 points per game but allow 89.9 points. Both numbers are 35th out of 43 NCCAA teams.
Ryan Reed leads the team with 20 points per game. Arayn Anderson provides 12 points, 6.3 assists and 5 rebounds per game.
Following this game, UAPB will have 19 days until its next game after playing 13 games in the first 43 days of the season, an average of one game every 3.3 days. Although this will include Christmas break, it should still provide the Golden Lions some much-needed practice time after having very little thus far with the busy schedule.