DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. - Trey Thomas exploded for a career-high 31 points as the Wildcats downed Arkansas - Pine Bluff, 73-64, Monday night at Moore Gymnasium.
With the win, the Wildcats improve to 4-1 in SWAC play on the season, the best conference start for the program since the 2017-18 season. The Wildcats finished that year 12-4 in MEAC play.
FIRST HALF
A grueling first half saw Bethune-Cookman (7-11, 4-1 SWAC)take an early lead over Arkansas - Pine Bluff (3-15, 0-5 SWAC), 12-5 through five minutes of play.
With offense at a premium, UAPB's Christian Moore's fastbreak layup made it a 4-point game at 16-12, B-CU through 12 minutes of play before a
Kalil Camara three made it an 11-point B-CU advantage.
With just five minutes until the break, the Golden Lions scored seven straight to cut the lead down to just three at 25-23 on a Doctor Bradley and-one. The Wildcats clung to the three-point lead at 27-24 as the teams hit the break.
SECOND HALF
Just 30 seconds into the second half, UAPB tied things up for the first time since the first minutes of play at 27-all on another Bradley and-one.
The Golden Lions took their first lead of the game at 38-36 as Bradley again found his way to the free throw line with 14 minutes to play. UAPB would lead by as many as four before B-CU tied things up at 42-43 on a
Trey Thomas free throw.
UAPB moved in front again, as Dante Sawyre's layup made it a six-point UAPB advantage at 48-42 with under 10 to play
Nine straight B-CU points, led by back-to-back threes from
Seneca Willoughby gave the Cats a 51-48 lead with seven minutes remaining - a lead they would never relinquish.
The Cats would close the final minutes with a 25-6 run. Though UAPB woudl threaten, pulling to within single-digits again, eight straight made free throws from
Trey Thomas iced things as B-CU took the 73-64 win.
- Trey Thomas, who scored a career-high 22 points Saturday against MVSU, bested that mark again with 31 points, 12 free throws, four rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
- Daniel Rouzan scored a season-high 18 poitns on 6-12 shooting with six rebounds, an assist, three blocks, and three steals.
- Jesus Carralero Martin came down with a season-high 13 rebounds. He also scored nine points with five assists and three blocks.
- UAPB made just two of 18 threes in the game.
- After only shooting 25 percent from the floor in the first half, B-CU shot 15-30 after halftime.
- B-CU scored 15 second-chance points.
- UAPB scored 42 points off the bench to B-CU's 28.
The Wildcats return to the road to take on Jackson State on Saturday, Jan. 25 at 4 p.m. EST. The game will be broadcast live on SWAC Digital Network.
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