SWAC MEN : Fans foul up, put UAPB in OT hole
Posted on Tuesday, February 26, 2008
URL: http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Sports/218000/
PINE BLUFF — Arkansas-Pine Bluff can hold its fans partially to blame for Monday’s loss.
Marcelle Goins forced overtime with a 40-foot threepointer at the buzzer but the Golden Lions trailed the entire extra period because of a technical foul called against the fans in a 77-76 loss to Texas Southern before an ESPNU television audience Monday at Clemmons Arena.
“You can’t blame it on any one thing because we made a bushel of mistakes, ’’ UAPB Coach Van Holt said. “ But the difference in the game was the technical foul on our fans.”
UAPB trailed by 11 points with 8: 52 left in regulation before rallying and forcing its first tie on Goins’ long shot as time expired.
The UAPB student section erupted in an impromptu celebration, littering the court with promotional Frisbees, cups and streamers given away by those running for campus office, drawing the technical foul.
Matthew Miller hit both free throws to give the Tigers a 70-68 advantage and Texas Southern never lost its lead.
UAPB trailed by four points twice but pulled within 77-76 after Goins hit the first free throw of a two-shot foul with 24. 6 seconds left.
The Golden Lions forced a turnover with 22. 3 seconds left but came up short when Goins and Larry Williams each missed 15-foot shots in the final 10 seconds to set the final score.
UAPB, which tied a season record by making 10 threepointers Saturday in a 70-54 victory against Prairie View A&M, couldn’t duplicate its shooting performance in the first half against the Tigers.
The Golden Lions were 2 of 14 from three-point range but were within 31-25 at halftime after shooting 9 of 16 from inside the arc.