Golden Lions take sole possession of first place in SWAC.
PRAIRIE VIEW, Texas — Martaveous McKnight entered the season with a good chance to become Southwestern Athletic Conference Newcomer of the Year.
Now, the University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff junior guard is making a strong case for Conference MVP.
McKnight scored a career-high 39 points as the Golden Lions (6-13, 6-0) earned a 72-66 victory after a quick start on Saturday night at the William J. Nicks Arena before a crowd of 1,112.
The 39 points were the most that McKnight had scored in a basketball — at any level.
"It feels good, but it's more important that we got the win," McKnight said.
The transfer from Itawamba (Miss.) Community College had his previous collegiate-high of 29 points in a 69-62 win at Alabama A&M on Jan. 6. On Saturday, he eclipsed his previous collegiate-best 10 field goals (also on Jan. 6) with 13 against the Panthers (5-15, 2-4).
Saturday's victory also put the Golden Lions in sole possession of first place in the SWAC — a half-game ahead of Jackson State, since JSU lost to Grambling State, 72-45, on Saturday.
UAPB almost fell victim to the "upset bug" itself.
The Golden Lions jumped out to leads of 27-4 and 33-8 in the first half, before Prairie View rallied to trim the lead to 37-22 at halftime.
The Panthers came within 3 points on several occasions in the second half.
"We got complacent and lackadaisical," McKnight said. "We played calm and we should have kept pushing."
On nearly every offensive play, the Panthers were keying on McKnight, who made 13 of 20 field goals.
But one of his most important plays didn't result in a field goal. It came with the Golden Lions ahead 43-40 when McKnight drew a fourth foul on Prairie View's key defender, Shaquille Preston.
McKnight was clutch from the free throw line, converting on 10 of 11 attempts, and he also had five assists and three steals. He scored more than half of the Golden Lions' points and more than double his average of 18.7 points per game.
UAPB 10th year head coach George Ivory isn't fazed by that. There will be nights where the offensive output is balanced and others where one player carries the team offensively.
UAPB shot 46.2 percent to Prairie View's 38.2 percent.
The Golden Lions went on a run in the second half where junior swingman Charles Jackson (six points) made a 3-pointer and senior forward Trent Steen (eight points) converted on an old-fashioned 3-point play and made a hook shot for a 56-45 lead.
The Panthers just wouldn't go away, playing before an energetic crowd. Troy Thompson helped cut the lead to 69-66, before senior Joe'Randle Toliver made some key free throws to clinch the win.
Ivory said the 2017-18 Golden Lions are comparable to the 2009-2010 Team (the only UAPB Men's Basketball Team to reach the NCAA Tournament -- they defeated Winthrop, before losing to eventual National Champion, Duke), and the 2011-2012 Team that was ineligible for postseason competition.
"The closeness that this team has reminds me of those teams," Ivory said.
Neither of those teams opened conference play with six consecutive victories.
The Golden Lions will face a tough challenge at 7:30 p.m. Monday when they visit three-time defending SWAC Champion, Texas Southern (3-15, 3-2). The results of TSU's Saturday night home game vs. Mississippi Valley State weren't available at press time.
TSU lost twice on the road last week-- to Jackson State, 85-80 in overtime, and Grambling, 79-78.
UAPB last defeated TSU in 2015 and hasn't defeated them in Houston this decade.
"It's always a challenge going to TSU," Ivory said. "They have a great coach and a great program. We want challenges, and we're used to challenges. We'll practice on Sunday evening, have a good meal and watch game film."