LORMAN, Miss. – Allen Smith scored 20 points as Arkansas-Pine Bluff defeated Alcorn State 81-74 Monday night in a Southwestern Athletic Conference game.
It was the second win in three games following an 0-14 start for the Golden Lions (2-15, 2-3). They shot 57.7 percent from the field (15 of 26) in the first half to establish a 33-28 halftime lead.
After stretching the lead to eight, Arkansas-Pine Bluff couldn't hold it. The Braves (1-15, 1-5) overtook them and built a six-point lead as Korey Sanders' layup made it 49-43 with 14:18 to go.
But the Braves' lead also proved to be short-lived. The Golden Lions answered with a 23-6 run over the next 6:53 and built the biggest lead of the game at 66-55. Alcorn State shaved the deficit to six points on Tony Eackles' free throw with 58 seconds left, but that was the end of its rally.
Kendrick McDonald led the Braves with 16 points.
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