UAPB Golden Lions Topples Southeastern Louisiana, 62-60

WEST POINT, New York -- The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff men's basketball team held a late comeback and slugged it out, toe-toe-, with Southeastern Louisiana Lions for 40 minutes in a 62-60 win at the Barclay's Center Classic. The Golden Lions took controlled the game mid-way through the first half and never looked back after being down 6-0 in the first three minutes of the game.

After playing one of the toughest schedule in the nation and coming off road losses to Michigan St. who has a good shot in playing in the Final Four and Nebraska and Cincinnati who projected of making the big dance, the Golden Lions stood strong on what Head Coach George Ivory preach and that's "defense". UAPB (2-5) forced SLU to 14 turnovers and taking advantage of scoring 20 of the team 30 points in the first half for a 30-28 lead.

Junior guard Ghiavonni Robinson came out the locker room with a hot hand, connecting on a three pointer from the left side of the arch with less than three minutes off the clock to extend UAPB lead 37-31 with 17:26 in the game.

Southeastern Louisiana wouldn't go down without a fight after being down by double digits (52-42) with 6:38 in regulation. The Lions would go on a scoring run, but All Tournament team senior forward JoVaughn Love stepped up big for UAPB in the second half and connected on two late jump shots and snatched a key rebound to cool Southeastern Louisiana (1-6) comeback rally.

The Golden Lions (2-5) scored a combined 27 points off turnovers, 34 points in the paint, 34 bench points and 13 fast break points.

UAPB shot 50.9 percent (27-of-53) from the floor, including 25 percent (4-of-16) from behind the arch. The Golden Lions were 4-of-10 (40 percent) from the charity stripes.

Love led the team with 15 points. DeShon Bayless and Charles Jackson each chipped in eight points for UAPB, followed by Ghiavonni Robinson with seven points and three assist T.J. Handley with six points. Love and Trent Whiting each hauled in five rebounds to lead the team.

Love also was named to the All Tournament team in this weekend Barclay's tournament.

All-Tournament Team:
Tanner Plomb, Army West Point (MVP)
Kyle Wilson, Army West Point
Harold McBride, Gardner–Webb
JoVaughn Love, Arkansas – Pine Bluff
Keith Charleston, Southeastern Louisiana

UAPB will return home for a short break before heading out to face Hawaii December 2nd in Honolulu.

COURTESY UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS PINE BLUFF SPORTS INFORMATION