PORTLAND, OR – Fired up and hungry for a win, the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff men’s basketball team dropped a game on the road against Portland with a final score of 86 – 74 on Thursday night at the Chiles Center.
Shawn Williams led the Golden Lions with an impressive 31-point game, shooting 55 percent from the field. Williams added five assists, three rebounds, and two steals to his stat line against Portland.
Brandon Brown finished with a double-double against the Pilots with 15 points and 11 rebounds, knocking down 54 percent of his shots from the field.
The Golden Lions got off to a great start against the Pilots, with Williams and Brown combining for 11 quick points to stick on the Pilots’ back early on. However, it was not the offense that got UAPB going. It was the energy on defense that set the zone for those in a black jersey. AJ Stredic and K’Shun Stokes instantly came in and started talking on defense while on the ball and when in help, causing Portland to have to work for their opportunities, and UAPB head coach Solomon Bozeman loved every second of it.
Early foul trouble from the Golden Lions would allow the Pilots to score 11 straight points, which half would be from the free-throw line, turning their two-point lead into a ten-point lead going into halftime with a score of 45 – 35.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff shot the ball well in the first half, sinking half of their shots.
After the halftime break, a Brown fastbreak layup and three-pointer would cut their deficit to five points, but the Pilots reacted instantaneously, knocking down multiple open jumpers to open the lead on the Golden Lions.
Williams would keep the Golden Lions in the game, knocking down tough shots over multiple defenders to keep the hopes alive for UAPB.
Late in the game, Travonta Doolittle would check into the game and hit a baseline drive teardrop and a corner three-pointer to generate more energy for the Golden Lions.
Williams capitalized on Doolittle’s two consecutive field goals to add on three straight scoring possessions, scoring eight fast points to come within eight points of Portland with 1:30 remaining.
Giving all they had left, the Golden Lions would fall to Portland with a final score of 86 – 74.
The Golden Lions will return to action in the Emerald City of Seattle to take on Seattle University on Monday at 9 p.m. CT. The game can be viewed on ESPN + and can be heard on KXSU 102.1 FM.
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