Alabama St. knocks off SWAC leader Arkansas-Pine Bluff 65-59

Feb 6, 2019, 04:36 pm

PINE BLUFF, Ark. -- Fausto Pichardo scored a career-high 17 points and grabbed 15 rebounds to help Alabama State upset Southwestern Athletic Conference leader Arkansas-Pine Bluff 65-59 on Monday night.

Reginald Gee added 14 points and seven rebounds, while the Hornets (5-18, 5-6 SWAC) finished with a 48-25 advantage on the glass to record their second straight win and hand the Golden Lions only their second conference loss.

Martaveous McKnight scored 20 points and Travon Harper had 12 for Arkansas-Pine Bluff (9-16, 9-2), which had its lead in the SWAC trimmed to one game when Grambling State defeated Alcorn State.

Gee scored 10 points as the Hornets built a 36-33 halftime lead and remained ahead the rest of the way, with the lead getting as high as 53-45 following Tobi Ewuosho's layup with 7:40 left.

The Golden Lions closed to within 61-57 in the final minute, but Alabama State made 4 of 6 free throws down the stretch to hold on.