For the first time in five years, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff men’s basketball team won its SWAC opener.
UAPB defeated Alabama A&M 95-83 on Saturday at H.O. Clemmons Arena in the first conference game for each team.
Head coach Solomon Bozeman said this was a big win for the Golden Lions.
“I’ve been saying all year I believe this team has everything we need,” Bozeman said. “It was just huge for our guys, man. They believe, and as you could see tonight, man, we’re going to be hard to guard, especially if we’re sharing the ball and playing for each other.”
UAPB (4-10, 1-0 SWAC) had not won its SWAC opener since knocking off Mississippi Valley State in 2021. This win also snapped an 11-game losing streak to the Bulldogs. The Golden Lions last beat AAMU in 2019.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
The Golden Lions shot 57.1 percent from the floor and made 10 of 19 from beyond the arc. UAPB also shot 21 of 26 from the free throw line en route to scoring the most points it has in a SWAC game since scoring 95 in a loss at Alcorn State on March 9, 2024.
Senior guard Jaquan Scott scored 24 points with eight rebounds to lead UAPB. Fellow senior Quion Williams added 20 points on a night he surpassed 1,000 for his career.
Another senior guard, Alex Mirhosseini, scored 16 points after making 4 of 6 from 3-point range. Each of his 16 points came before he picked up his fourth foul with 13:17 to play.
At the time, he was UAPB’s leading scorer but had to return to the bench due to his foul trouble. During his extended break, Scott stepped up to take the scoring lead and keep UAPB in front.
Scott said he didn’t feel any pressure when Mirhosseini came out of the game.
“I kinda just played my game and just do what I have to do,” Scott said. “I wasn’t in my mind, ‘I’m fixing to take over,’ but it just happened. Just being aggressive and doing what I got to do.”
AAMU (7-7, 0-1) led most of the first half, though that half included nine ties, but Mirhosseini tied the game 1:02 before halftime with a 3-pointer. The game remained tied at 41 at the break, but Mirhosseini hit two 3-pointers in the first minute of the second half to put UAPB in front. The Golden Lions led the rest of the night.
Mirhosseini’s 16 points were his most against a Division I opponent this season, and his four 3-pointers tied his season high.
The West Virginia Wesleyan transfer was averaging 7.8 points against Division I foes prior to scoring 20 each against non-Division I foes Ecclesia College and Champion Christian to finish nonconference play.
Bozeman said the coaches and players believe in Mirhosseini.
“He’s been struggling all year, but we continued to stay with him, because he puts in the work,” Bozeman said. “Tonight, 16 points, five assists, one turnover. I thought he was huge for our team, and I think he’s going to continue to be huge for our team.”
Senior guard Kintavious Dozier, one of seven Grambling State transfers who followed head coach Donte’ Jackson to AAMU this offseason, led the Bulldogs with 26 points. Koron Davis followed with 17, while GSU transfer PJ Eason added 16 points with 11 rebounds.