PINE BLUFF, AR. -- Southern men's basketball come from behind thrilling rally forced overtime where they defeated University of Arkansas-Pine Bluff 73-71 Saturday afternoon at H.O. Clemmons Arena. 

The Jaguars were led by Harrison Henderson and Samkelo Cele with both of them finishing with 19 points. Jayden Saddler to added 11 points. Cele and Isaiah Rollins led SU in rebounding each finishing with five rebounds. 

Dropping two close games at home, Southern (5-8, 5-4 SWAC) went on the road looking for a much needed win. This time they had to use there seventh different starting lineup during the season. SU was able to take a 28-26 lead into halftime, something they haven't been able to do in the last two ballgames. 

During the contest you saw 16 lead changes and 10 ties the entire game. SU was facing it's largest deficit of the game trailing 61-52 after Doss made a pair of free throws with 4:17 left in regulation. The Jaguars were able to force five turnovers down the stretch and went on a 10-1 run to close out the second half. SU made 5-of-8 from the free throw line during that span.

SU got within one point, 61-60 when Terrell Williams Jr. converted an old fashioned three-point play as he made the layup through contact and cashed in from the free throw line with 29.2 seconds left to play. On the next possession, SU fouled Joshuwan Johnson who made one of two free throws, giving UAPB a 62-60 lead. The Jaguars in-bounded the basketball and moved it over the timeline before they called a timeout with 9.2 seconds. Saddler threw the ball to Rollins, who gave it back to Saddler and who drove from the left wing/baseline and was able to tie the game when the Lions were called for goaltending with 6.4 seconds left help send the game to overtime.



In the overtime period, SU was led by Jayden Saddler who scored five points and gave SU the lead for good at 67-66. The Jaguars were able to capitalize from the charity stripe making 5-of-6 free throws and led by as much as five points 73-68, before a last second buzzer-beating 3-pointer by the Lions.

"With all of the adversity we've gone through with losing players and only having one or two guys from last year's team, we just gutted it out," Southern head coach Sean Woods said. "We're trying to win with guys we haven't been counting on,  that's why we coach them the way we do. You never know when you're going to have to step up. Coming down the stretch, we were just trying to make a play. We executed like we're supposed to, and we got stops when we needed them. Our guys just didn't quit. We have to clean up some mistakes and get ready for Wednesday's game at MVSU."

Southern shot 25-of-58 (43%) from the field and was 20-for-32 at the free-throw line (62.5%). The Jaguars outrebounded the Golden Lions 39-3, outsocred the Lions bench 26-16 and finished with 26 second-chance points.

UAPB (3-17, 2-9 SWAC) was led in scoring by Shaun Doss Jr. who finished with 21 points. Terrance Banyard added 13 points for the Golden Lions. 

UP NEXT
The Jaguars will travel to Mississippi Valley State on Wednesday, February 17th for a 3:00 pm tip-off, as a result of the game postponement on Monday night due to inclement weather.

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