SU vs. UAPB Basketball Doubleheader

Almost a year ago, the Southern University women’s basketball team was on the cusp of making history. Ranked #2 in SWAC West, the Lady Jags were able to bypass every obstacle and critique to win the SWAC tournament and punch their ticket to the NCAA. With almost the entire team returning, you would think the ladies would dominate the conference with ease. However, with a record of 5-11, the fairytale has been short-lived, with the lady jaguars playing catch up with themselves; and Saturday’s game showed no difference. After the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff Lions won the tip, it seemed as if the game was already decided. The lady lions asserted a level of dominance that would remain consistent throughout the entire first half of the game. The lady Jaguars point guards, graduate student Chole Flemming, and graduate students had trouble bringing the ball past the tough double-team lion defense that was shown. The score in the 2nd quarter stood at 7:59 Jaguars 12, Lions 21. With a late surge in the last 2 minutes of the quarter, senior Forward Raven White takes two simultaneous charges to bring the overall momentum of the Lady Jags back despite trailing in numbers. End of the first half, Jaguars 22, Lions 20. Coming off halftime, the lady Jaguars seemingly ran out of gas, extending the UAPB Lions lead in the last two quarters. The game concluded with UAPB Lions 74 and Southern University Jaguars 59.
Now, onto the men’s. Let’s set the scene. It’s the first home game since the start of spring semester. The bleachers are packed from top to bottom with students, especially Greeks, showcasing their respective letters, given the night’s game was also Greek night. You would think with the home team advantage, the Jaguars would come off the tip-off guns blazing, however, it took seven possessions in the first half of the game for the Jaguars to show any momentum. Shooting 1 for 8 from the field while also showcasing sloppy defense, which allowed the UAPB Lions to draw back-to-back fouls, someone had to take charge on the court. Finally asserting dominance, in a joint effort by #3 Junior Guard Taireon “Scootah” Joseph and #5 Senior Forward Jairyon Wilkens, the Jaguars were able to go on a 4 to 9 scoring run with 8:16 left on the clock. Joseph, currently ranked #15 in the NCAA for PPG (point per game) showed effective ball handling and great decision-making, accounting for 78% from the field. However, with the half-ending Jaguars 36 and Lions 33, the margin for error was still too great to solidify a Jaguar win. Out of the half, this team started to look completely different from what spectators witnessed at the start. Great frontcourt coverage paved the way for effective defense in the paint, with the stand-out player emerging from this game, #4 Junior Guard Derrick Tezeno. Tezeno was able to find holes in the Lions’ offense, aggressively pressing the paint to score an amazing 8 points in less than 2 minutes. Combined with the impenetrable Jaguar defense and the UAPB Lions’ inability to put the ball in, with 3:14 on the clock, the Jaguars’ lead starts to extend. With the clock dwindling and the Jags furthering their lead, F.G. Clark quickly clears with a Jaguar win, 76 to 53.