PINE BLUFF, AR – The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff men’s basketball team dropped a pivotal matchup to Alcorn State with a final score of 70-64 on Saturday evening at H.O. Clemmons Arena.
The Golden Lions had two players score in double figures. Arkansas-Pine Bluff was led by Dequan Morris, who had 20 points, six rebounds, and two steals, followed by Shawn Williams with 17 points and four assists.
After a tough first half of both teams limiting each other to shooting the ball 30 percent from the field, the Golden Lions game plan changed in the second half to get downhill and take great shots in which they would.
Bringing lots of energy and toughness to the floor, a K’Shun Stokes would penetrate to the basket from outside the perimeter for an off-handed layup to regenerate some momentum for the Golden Lions after the start of the second half.
Only scoring four points in the first half, Morris knew if there were any success on the floor for the Golden Lions, he would have to take over the game alongside Williams. A stop-and-pop jumper would get Morris going in the second half, causing him to slap his hands together, knowing he was about to catch a hot hand.
Using his go-to move, Morris’ in-and-out dribble left an Alcorn State defender clueless as Morris blew past his defender for a floater to cut the deficit to three, 36-33.
Morris’ defensive efforts helped keep the Golden Lions in close reach of the Braves. Alcorn State attempted to break the Golden Lions’ full-court press, passing the ball to mid-court, but Morris was at the right place at the right time for a steal to go the other way with an intention for a jam but would lay the ball up.
With time winding down after running a set, Alcorn State tried to pressure Williams with man-to-man defense. The crafty guard reached in his bag with an in-and-out crossover stepback and would let the ball fly from deep, knocking down a highly contested three-pointer, forcing the Braves to call a timeout.
In the same position after the Braves timeout, the ball would end up in Williams’ hands again from Brandon Brown to knock down another crucial three-point bucket, but as seconds ticked away from the clock, the Golden Lions would fight harder and harder.
WHAT’S NEXT
The Golden Lions will look to bounce back against Jackson State on Monday at H.O. Clemmons Arena. The game is scheduled to tipoff at 7:30 p.m.
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