This part of the nonconference schedule is certainly more to Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s liking.

Accustomed to playing most of its games on the road against name opponents, UAPB got a rare breather Saturday in rolling past Philander Smith 68-60 at Mims Gymnasium.

The Golden Lions (3-5 ) never trailed and led by 17 points with a minute to play before the Panthers (5-9 ) closed with a 9-0 run to make the game appear closer.

UAPB held Philander Smith to 28. 6-percent shooting from the field and got a game-high 20 points, 9 rebounds and 6 blocks from senior forward William Byrd, who is the Southwestern Athletic Conference preseason Offensive Player of the Year.

Tommy Bozeman came off the bench to lead the Panthers with 14 points.

“If I had to grade my guys, I’d give them a B-minus,” UAPB Coach Van Holt said. “ Sometimes you play to your competition but with our schedule, nonconference wins are pretty hard to come by no matter who you play.

“ This game is very big for them [Philander Smith ] and they always play us with a high level of intensity. ’’ UAPB, which defeated Philander Smith 91-77 on Dec. 1 in Pine Bluff before taking the week off for semester exams, got off to a fast start in the rematch. Byrd hit two driving layups and scored on a putback as UAPB took a 13-5 lead with 14: 10 left in the first half.

The Golden Lions led 22-11 before the Panthers went on a 15-4 run and tied the game at 26-26 with 1: 21 remaining in the half. Brandon Bealer highlighted the surge with a three-point play and an 8-foot jumper.

UAPB took a 31-26 lead at halftime on a three-pointer and a layup from Marcelle Goins and led 43-40 lead with 14: 57 to play before slamming the door on a potential upset bid.

Larry Williams hit two threepointers while Byrd scored twice inside as UAPB reeled off 14 consecutive points to push its lead to 57-40 with 7: 45 left.

With UAPB holding a 68-51 lead and its starters on the bench with 59 seconds left, Philander Smith got seven points from Kevin Moore and a field goal from Leon Harris to set the final margin.

“ I was disappointed at the end going from a 17-point lead to eight but I thought we executed pretty good overall, ’’ Holt said.