Southern Jaguars ride key victory into Valley

SU COACH ROMAN BANKS

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana  -  It was the kind of victory the Southern men’s basketball team rarely achieved over the past few seasons — the kind of victory a fledgling program needs.

Saturday afternoon at Arkansas-Pine Bluff, the Jaguars struggled against a team that hadn’t won in two months. SU fell behind early and trailed for virtually the entire second half — but the team dug deep, rallied and ultimately prevailed. Derick Beltran drained a game-winning 3-pointer with four seconds left, and Southern escaped (69-68).

“You’ll take (victories) any way you can get ’em,” first-year coach Roman Banks said. “Especially when you’re rebuilding and still trying to learn how to win.”

Now, the Jaguars move on to Itta Bena, Miss., where they’ll face Mississippi Valley State. It’s a fitting stop for a team that’s trying to climb back toward the top of the Southwestern Athletic Conference after several years of futility.

When the teams tip off at 7:30 p.m. Monday in the R.W. Harrison Complex, Southern will get a good look at a Valley program that’s done just that.

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Late 3 lifts Jaguars by Pine Bluff, 69-68

PINE BLUFF, Arkansas — Savalace Townsend had all but carried Arkansas-Pine Bluff to the finish line Saturday, scoring 31 points in a barnburner against Southern at H.O. Clemmons Arena. So with 19 seconds left, when Townsend stepped to the free-throw line with a chance to give UAPB a two-possession lead, the Golden Lions felt pretty good about their chances at closing out the game.

The Jaguars, meanwhile, were making plans. First-year coach Roman Banks told his players that if Townsend missed both, they shouldn’t call a timeout. They should go. And go they did.

Derick Beltran drained a 3-pointer with 4 seconds left, lifting Southern to a stunning 69-68 victory that shocked the home crowd of 3,108.

Said a relieved, thankful Banks afterward: “We’ll take it.”

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