PINE BLUFF — Arkansas-Pine Bluff Coach Monte Coleman is saying all the right things about close being not close enough.

The Golden Lions’ 31-24 overtime loss at Southern University of Baton Rouge last week might have represented a quantum leap for UAPB’s sputtering offense, but Coleman will stick to the bottom line. And the bottom line continues to be that the Golden Lions remain winless in Southwestern Athletic Conference play with only three games left on the schedule.

“It’s a consolation prize, that’s what it is,” Coleman said. “It doesn’t help much, but losing ‘in it’ as opposed to not even being in it makes a big difference.”

If the Golden Lions can cross the threshold completely today, they’ll be doing it in an ideal environment.

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This marks the third consecutive year UAPB has faced Grambling State at War Memorial Stadium as part of the Delta Classic 4 Literacy, and the game has so far held up as one of the top football events in the metro area.

The official attendance in 2006 was 30, 216, and the numbers last season jumped to 40, 067.

Those who come today have a chance to see a team gradually figuring itself out. Improved blocking up front — a UAPB weakness for two seasons and counting — allowed senior running back Martell Mallett to break out for 166 yards rushing at Southern, and 7. 5 yards per carry.

But the Golden Lions remain atrocious in the passing game. Quarterbacks Jonathan Moore and Gvona Turner had more interceptions (4 ) than completions (3 ) against the Jaguars, and continuing injury problems with Moore makes it uncertain who will start today.

Defensively, the Golden Lions are coming around after playing tough against the SWAC’s No. 1 scoring offense. Grambling State (7-2, 5-0 SWAC ) shouldn’t be nearly as productive, even though quarterbacks Greg Dillon and J. P. Tillman have improved from game to game after eligibility issues ended the season for the Tigers’ projected starter.

Perhaps nothing stands out about Grambling State more than this: The Tigers have won six consecutive since a 31-19 loss at Northwestern (La. ) State on Sept. 14.

As Coleman and the rest of the Golden Lions are learning all too well, the differences between knowing how to win and figuring out how to win can be vast.

“We’re still losing,” Coleman said. “The bottom line is we want to win football games.” Today’s game ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF

VS. GRAMBLING WHEN 4 p. m. Central today WHERE War Memorial Stadium, Little Rock RECORDS Arkansas-Pine Bluff 1-8, 0-4 Southwestern Athletic Conference; Grambling State 7-2, 5-0 COACHES Monte Coleman (1-8 at Arkansas-Pine Bluff ); Rod Broadway (15-6 at Grambling State ) RADIO KUAP-FM, 88. 7, in Pine Bluff