For the second time in three games, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff got a critical last-second stop to secure a road victory in men’s basketball.
UAPB defeated Grambling State 67-64 at the Hobdy Assembly Center in Grambling, La., on Wednesday. The game, originally scheduled for Jan. 26, was postponed to Wednesday due to the winter storm which came through the area late last month.
UAPB (9-13, 6-3 SWAC) led by as much as 59-46 with 8:49 remaining, but the Tigers fought back. Freshman forward Antonio Munoz hit a jumper with 1:31 remaining, then made a free throw 57 seconds later to cut UAPB’s lead to 65-64.
Grambling (10-11, 4-4) fouled the Golden Lions multiple times before finally getting UAPB into the bonus. UAPB senior guard Quion Williams made two crucial free throws with 10 seconds left to make it a three-point game.
Grambling senior guard Roderick Coffee III fired off a missed three-pointer with 2 seconds left. UAPB junior guard Ramel Lloyd Jr. collected the rebound as time expired on the Golden Lions’ third straight win, each coming on the road.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The finish was reminiscent of UAPB’s 75-74 win at Southern on Jan. 24, when the Golden Lions had to defend a last-second three-pointer to seal its win.
Williams led UAPB with 18 points and nine assists. Freshman guard Milhan Charles finished with 15 points, while senior forward Jaquan Scott scored 13 points with 12 rebounds.
UAPB shot 43.4% from the field and made 15 of 21 free throws.
Coffee’s missed three-pointer was part of a trend. Grambling shot 3 of 25 from beyond the arc, with Coffee missing all seven of his attempts. Munoz led Grambling with 26 points and seven rebounds, while Coffee added 12 for the Tigers.
The game featured nine ties and three lead changes. Grambling’s last lead was a 17-16 edge with 8:25 remaining in the first half.
For UAPB, this win ensured the Golden Lions remained in second place in the SWAC.