Last week’s solid defensive performances by the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff men’s basketball team didn’t travel to Tulsa on Wednesday.
A hot-shooting Tulsa squad defeated UAPB 117-84 at the Reynolds Center in the Golden Lions’ final non-conference road game of the season.
UAPB (1-10) had its best defensive showings of the season last week against Illinois-Chicago and DePaul but followed that up by allowing the most points it has in a game since Dec. 15, 2024, when Texas scored 121.
Tulsa (9-1) set a new Reynolds Center scoring record and passed its previous season-high of 111, scored against Manhattan (Kan.) Christian College on Dec. 2, with 4:42 remaining.
The Golden Hurricane shot 57.1% from the field and made 14 of 28 from three-point range. Tulsa also made 31 of 37 free throws.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Nine Tulsa players made at least one three-pointer. Freshman guard Jaylen Lawal led with 20 points and made 3 of 5 from beyond the arc. Five teammates scored 11 or more.
UAPB tied its season-high in scoring, though it wasn’t enough to keep pace with Tulsa. The Golden Lions shot 50.9% from the field while making 8 of 25 from three-point range and 18 of 21 from the free throw line.
Senior forward Jaquan Scott scored a season-high 30 points and collected nine rebounds in 27 minutes. He played off the bench for the first time this season and battled foul trouble, which has been a recurring problem. He finished with four fouls after fouling out of UAPB’s previous two games.
Freshman guard Milhan Charles added 18 points, while graduate guard Ahmad Johnson scored a season-high 11 points and led the team in three-point shooting, making 3 of 5.
Senior guard Quion Williams scored eight points with eight assists before fouling out. He finished with six fouls after receiving his second technical moments after fouling out. The UAPB bench also received a technical after Williams’ first tech.
UAPB kept it close for much of the first half before a Charles three-pointer tied the game and a Johnson jumper gave UAPB its only lead, 28-26, with 8:37 to play in the first half.
The score stayed there until Tulsa ended a 3:23 scoring drought with a Miles Barnstable three-pointer to restore its lead. That shot started a 13-0 run to give Tulsa control of the game. Barnstable capped off the run he started with a three-point play.
UAPB twice cut the deficit to nine afterward but trailed 51-36 at halftime after Tulsa junior guard Tylen Riley scored the final 5 points of the half.
The Golden Lions never threatened the lead in the second half. Once the Golden Hurricane got it to 63-43 with 16:46 to play, the lead never dropped below 20 points again. Tulsa held its largest lead, 115-76, with 3:25 remaining.
This was the final game of the 11-game road trip UAPB embarked on to start the season. The Golden Lions’ next four games will be their first at home.