A late tipoff on the West Coast awaits the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff men’s basketball team the day before Thanksgiving.
UAPB will face the University of the Pacific at 9 p.m. CST at the Alex G. Spanos Center in Stockton, Calif., on ESPN+.
The Golden Lions (1-6) continue to seek their first Division I victory this season after losing their first six attempts, all on the road.
Guards Christian Moore and Dante Sawyer have been UAPB’s most consistent scorers this season, averaging 12.1 and 11.4 points per game, respectively. Forward Klemen Vuga has also contributed 10.4 points and 5.7 rebounds per game, but scoring depth has been an issue in these road games so far.
UAPB has had one or two players reach double digits in each of the past four games, but the Golden Lions’ opponents have had between four and six double-digit scorers.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Freshman guard Chop Paljor stepped up at Missouri on Sunday with 22 points after scoring 5 total in his first five games, though most of that came in the second half with the game already out of reach.
UAPB will look for a better showing against Pacific (3-4). The Tigers have lost four straight games, including a 91-56 loss at Missouri on Friday, two days before UAPB visited Mizzou. Pacific also lost to Arkansas, Northern Arizona and Hawaii on this skid. They have one win against a Division I foe, which came 80-67 on Nov. 8 against San Jose State.
Senior forward Elias Ralph leads Pacific with 17.9 points and 7.6 rebounds per game, followed by junior guard Elijah Fisher with 15.9 points per game. Both players hail from Canada.