Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions Celebrates the WinBy Lee Scurry
Posted March 17, 2010 10:39 AM
When the Arkansas Pine-Bluff Golden Lions met the Winthrop Eagles last night in the opening game of the NCAA tournament, it was anyone's guess who would win. This game was the "play-in game to determine the final entry into the 64-team tournament field.
By the second half, it was apparent the Golden Lions would refuse to go home on another loss on the road.
Allen Smith led the Lions with 14 points to a 61-44 victory over Winthrop, one of three South Carolina teams in the tournament, Tuesday night.
The Golden Lions (18-15) will move on to play Duke, the no. 1 seed in the South Regional bracket, in Jacksonville on Friday.
The Lions lost their first 11 games on the road this season, some to top teams like Kansas State, Oregon, and Michigan.
"We think it brought them together," coach George Ivory said. "You've got to stay together on the road. You get to know each other better. You go through some bumps and bruises on the road, playing in some pretty tough places."
And stay together they did. Even when Winthrop player Charles Corbin dropped a three pointer and started a run that gave Winthrop a 23-17 lead, the Lions rallied back by scoring from the free throw line.
Winthrop was never able to regain the lead in the second half. The Golden Lions' win snapped a 17-game losing streak by teams from the SWAC in the NCAA tournament.
