PINE BLUFF, Ark. – Jayrn Johnson scored 24 points while Admassu Williams hit the go-ahead free throws along with a big block in the closing seconds as PVAMU defeated Arkansas-Pine Bluff 57-55 for their first win in Pine Bluff since 2005.
 
The Panthers opened the contest with a 7-2 surge as Zachary Hamilton scored four of the first seven points for the Panthers.  However, the momentum swung back to UAPB as they went on an 11-2 run and took advantage of a scoreless drought by PVAMU which spanned six minutes. Two free throws by Tevin Bellinger ended the drought but UAPB moved ahead 16-10 at the 9:46 mark and remained ahead as the Panthers hit only two of their next six shots and committed three turnovers.  Defensively, PVAMU kept UAPB at bay as they forced three shot clock violations in the first half.
 
Down by five with 5:26 left, Jayrn Johnson hit a jumper, made a steal and hit another layup to close the gap to 19-18. UAPB would extend its lead back to five at 23-18 but Malik Amos' trey with 1:35 left brought PVAMU within 23-21. JoVaughn Love's basket for the Golden Lions at the 1:14 mark was the final basket of the half as the Panthers trailed 25-21.
 
After a sluggish first half, a track meet broke out to open the second stanza as PVAMU went on a 13-8 run fueled by Johnson's eight points within the first four-and-a-half minutes. Holding a 34-33 lead, the contest would slow down as both teams exchanged leads with the Panthers up 42-38 after another trey from Johnson with 12:23 left. The lead would hold over the next few minutes until Marquis Cunningham's jumper moved UAPB back on top 44-43 but the Panthers regained control and a 48-44 advantage after Admassu Williams' jumper.
 
Offense would be hard to come by from both teams but PVAMU did just enough as JaDonta Blakely's tip-in gave PVAMU a 50-45 lead with 6:16 left and the Panthers held UAPB scoreless for three minutes until Devin Berry's three-point play at the 3:51 mark. Williams answered the play with a basket of his own on the ensuing possession for a 52-48 lead but Marcus Wallace nailed a wide open trey from the UAPB bench to cut the margin to 52-51.
 
UAPB tied the game at 52-all with 2:24 left but the lead was short-lived as Williams was fouled on an inbounds play and hit 1-of-2 free throws for a 53-52 margin with 2:03 on the clock. A UAPB block led to a Berry layup and Golden Lion lead (54-53) 23 seconds later but Hamilton came up big with two huge free throws after being fouled with 1:18 left. With PVAMU holding the lead once again, the pressure began to mount as both teams went back-and-forth but the Golden Lions tied it at 55 with 51.3 seconds left as Cunningham hit 1-of-2 free throws.
 
Johnson and Malik Amos had clean looks at the basket as time ticked down but Williams was fouled as he was in solid position for an offensive rebound after Amos' miss.  Williams hit both free throws with 17 seconds left for a 57-55 lead and came up big with four seconds left as he blocked Love's potential game-tying basket. UAPB had another opportunity to tie the game but Cunningham's jumper fell short.
 
Johnson led all scorers with 24 points, five rebounds and five steals in 38 minutes of action. Williams finished two points shy of a double-double with eight points and 10 rebounds while Hamilton added 11 points.

The Panthers are back in action on Monday as they'll face Mississippi Valley State at 7:30 p.m. in Itta Bena, Miss.