1 | 2 | T | |
---|---|---|---|
SOU | 30 | 35 | 65 |
UAPB | 27 | 44 | 71 |
McKnight, Harper lift Arkansas-Pine Bluff to SWAC title game
HOUSTON -- Martaveous McKnight and Travon Harper combined for 51 points and top-seeded Arkansas-Pine Bluff shot 55 percent and defeated No. 4 seed Southern 71-65 in a Southwest Athletic Conference semifinal on Friday.
Arkansas-Pine Bluff (14-20) will face either Prairie View A&M, the No. 2 seed, or third-seeded Texas Southern in Saturday's championship.
McKnight scored five points in a 7-1 surge as the Golden Lions opened a 59-57 lead and sealed off Southern by making 5 of 6 at the free-throw line.
McKnight, the SWAC Player of the Year, hit 10 of 15 shots from the floor, 7 of 9 at the line, and scored 28 points with eight rebounds. Harper scored 23 points on 8-of-13 shooting and was also 7 of 9 at the free-throw line. The duo took 28 of the Golden Lions 44 shots and had 18 of the team's 24 baskets.
Eddie Reese led Southern (15-18) with 17 points, Jared Sam added 13 and Emanual Shepherd 11. The Jaguars were 20 of 50 from the floor (40 percent).
Neither team shot much from distance, Southern going 3 of 14 from 3-point range, while Arkansas-Pine Bluff made 1 of 7.
Game Information
- Referees:
- Ken Washington
- John Heatly
- Kevin Chambliss
2023-24 Southwestern Athletic Conference Standings
Team | CONF | GB | OVR |
---|---|---|---|
Grambling | 14-4 | - | 21-15 |
Alcorn State | 13-5 | 1 | 14-18 |
Southern | 12-6 | 2 | 18-14 |
Texas Southern | 12-6 | 2 | 16-17 |
Bethune-Cookman | 11-7 | 3 | 17-17 |
Jackson State | 11-7 | 3 | 15-17 |
Alabama A&M | 9-9 | 5 | 12-23 |
Arkansas-Pine Bluff | 8-10 | 6 | 13-18 |
Alabama State | 8-10 | 6 | 13-19 |
Prairie View A&M | 5-13 | 9 | 10-21 |
Florida A&M | 4-14 | 10 | 6-23 |
Mississippi Valley State | 1-17 | 13 | 1-30 |