The two-game winning streak the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff is taking into SWAC play will face an immediate challenge.
The UAPB men’s basketball team will open conference play at home at 5:30 p.m. Saturday against Alabama A&M and at 5:30 p.m. Monday against Alabama State at H.O. Clemmons Arena.
UAPB (3-10) struggled for most of nonconference play but won three of its final five games. UAPB opened December with a 63-62 win at Illinois-Chicago before putting up a good showing in a 76-72 loss at DePaul. The Golden Lions blew out a pair of non-Division I teams at home to end the nonconference slate.
The momentum they built in December will be tested this month. Alabama A&M (7-6) is the only team in the SWAC to finish nonconference play with a winning record.
The Bulldogs won four games against Division I opponents, tied with Grambling State for the most among SWAC teams. They enter January with the top scoring defense in the conference, allowing 70.8 points per game.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
AAMU also ranks first in opponent field goal percentage, opponent 3-point percentage and rebounding margin.
Alabama State (3-10) is the reigning SWAC champion after winning the conference tournament last season and defeating Saint Francis in the NCAA Tournament First Four before losing to Auburn in the first round.
The Hornets defeated two Division I teams in nonconference play, tied with Bethune-Cookman for third in the SWAC.
Alabama State will present a different challenge from AAMU. The Hornets rank fourth in scoring offense, just behind UAPB.
The Golden Lions lead the SWAC in made three-pointers per game with 8.2, but Alabama State is just behind with 8.1. The Hornets have the most offensive rebounds in the SWAC, a category in which UAPB ranks third.
The Bulldogs rank 274th in the NCAA’s NET rankings, which is the second highest among SWAC teams behind Grambling. Alabama State ranks 294th, with UAPB ranking 303rd.
UAPB senior guard Quion Williams will look to lead the Golden Lions into SWAC play this weekend. He leads the conference in assists per game (6.1) and field goal percentage (52.6). His 8.0 rebounds per game rank second, his 2.3 steals per game rank third, and his 17.8 points per game rank fifth.
AAMU senior guard Kintavious Dozier leads the Bulldogs with 14.1 points per game, and senior P.J. Eason ranks second in the SWAC in blocks and third in rebounds.
ASU senior guard Asjon Anderson leads the Hornets with 17.4 points per game, while redshirt freshman Jerquarius Stanback leads the league in blocks.