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DAYTON, Ohio – The University Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions made school and conference history with a 61-44 victory over the Winthrop University Eagles in the NCAA Opening Round.
Not only did the Golden Lions advance to the First Round of the NCAA Tournament, but they also earned the school’s first tournament victory and the SWAC’s first win in the opening round game.
UAPB improved to 18-15 overall, and have won 12 of their last 13 games.
The 2010 NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship started off with an impressive game between UAPB and Winthrop, hosted at the University of Dayton Arena.
Leading scorers for UAPB were guard Allen Smith with 14 points, and forward Tyree Glass with 10. Tavaris Washington had 13 rebounds and five assists.
Key players for Winthrop were Mantoris Robinson, with 10 points and eight rebounds, Charles Corbin, with 13 points and five rebounds and Matt Morgan, with 11 points and five rebounds. Winthrop dropped to 19-14 overall.
It was clear that a defensive game was underway within the first few minutes. The Eagles struck first at 18:24 with an Andy Buechert hook shot. This was quickly responded to by an ARPB turnaround jumper.
The Golden Lions established and built on a lead at 15:05 with a Smith trey, making the score 9-4 in the favor of UAPB. After a four-minute field goal drought, Charles Corbin of the Eagles made a two-point jumper, bringing the score to 11-7.
A Reggie Middleton driving layup brought the Eagles to a four-point deficit, 13-9, just under the 10-minute mark.
The Eagles tied the game up, 15-15, with 6:41 left in the first half thanks to a Corbin three-pointer, closely followed with a layup by Morgan. A costly UAPB foul in the next possession gave Winthrop their first lead since early in the half.
Both teams started to overcome their offensive issues in the last five minutes of the half. Robinson’s accuracy at the line gave the Eagles a six-point lead with 1:56 left in the half.
The Golden Lions countered with a Lebaron Weathers three-point jumper assisted by Gavin Montgomery, starting a seven-point run in UAPB’s favor which brought them to a lead at the half, 24-23.
Starting the final 20 minutes of the game, the Golden Lions worked hard to keep their lead against a persistent Winthrop team. At 17:03, a Smith three-pointer brought UAPB to a six point lead, 33-27. The Eagles answered with a four-point run at 15:16 to bring the score to 33-31.
Winthrop started to come across defensive issues at the 14 minute mark of the second half, allowing the Golden Lions to get a small run accented by a Smith trey at 13:42, bringing them to a seven-point lead, tying their largest lead at that point in the game.
The Golden Lions started to stretch this lead. With 8:36 left in the game, a Savalace Townsend free-throw brought UAPB to a 12-point lead, 48-36.
Winthrop could not overcome that large lead due to UAPB’s consistent offensive production. Winthrop’s top scorer of the game, Corbin, fouled out with 1:08 remaining. Another Smith three-pointer with 22 seconds left launched UAPB to their largest lead of the game, the final score 61-44.
The University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff will move on in the NCAA Tournament to play the Duke Blue Devils on Friday, March 19 at 7:25 p.m. EST in Jacksonville, Fla.
This game was the 83rd NCAA Tournament game held at the University of Dayton Arena, tying the NCAA record. Dayton has hosted every Opening Round of the NCAA tournament since its inception in 2001.
Written by Keith Stamper, Class of 2010.
