GRAMBLING, La. (Interstat) — In a game defined by offensive struggles and a dramatic final minute, the Arkansas-Pine Bluff Golden Lions held off a late charge to defeat the Grambling Tigers 67-64 in a Southwest Athletic Conference men’s basketball game Wednesday night at Fredrick Hobdy Assembly Center. The Golden Lions, who led for nearly the entire contest, saw a once-comfortable second-half advantage evaporate in the final minutes before securing the road victory. The win improved Arkansas-Pine Bluff to 9-13 overall, while Grambling fell to 10-11. The most critical sequence unfolded in the game’s final 40 seconds. With Arkansas-Pine Bluff clinging to a 64-63 lead, Grambling’ Antonio Munoz was fouled and sent to the free-throw line with 34 seconds remaining. Munoz, who finished with a game-high 26 points, made the first free throw to tie the game but missed the second. Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s Jaquan Scott secured the defensive rebound, and the Golden Lions called a timeout with 31 seconds left. On the ensuing possession, Grambling’s Derrius Ward fouled Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s Quion Williams with 21 seconds on the clock. Williams, who tallied 18 points and nine assists, calmly sank both free throws to put the Golden Lions ahead 66-64. Grambling’s attempt to tie or take the lead ended when Rickey Ballard missed a three-point jumper with 13 seconds left. Williams grabbed the defensive rebound, was immediately fouled, and made one of two free throws with 10 seconds remaining for the final margin. Grambling’s last-gasp three-point attempt by Roderick Coffee missed as time expired. The game was a tale of contrasting offensive execution. Arkansas-Pine Bluff, while not efficient, managed a 100.0 offensive rating by scoring 67 points on 67 possessions. Grambling’s offense sputtered, posting a rating of 91.3, hampered significantly by frigid three-point shooting. The Tigers connected on just 3 of 25 attempts from beyond the arc, a debilitating 12 percent. Arkansas-Pine Bluff built its lead in the first half, taking a 32-30 advantage into the break. The Golden Lions extended their lead to as many as nine points in the second half, largely on the strength of Williams’ playmaking and timely scoring from Milhan Charles, who finished with 15 points, and Scott, who added 13. Despite being outscored 38-30 in the paint and allowing Grambling 13 offensive rebounds, the Golden Lions compensated with better ball security and perimeter defense. Both teams committed 12 turnovers, but Arkansas-Pine Bluff converted Grambling’s mistakes into 13 points while limiting the Tigers’ opportunities from deep. For Grambling, Munoz’s scoring outburst was the lone consistent offensive threat. Ward added eight points, but the supporting cast struggled from the field. The Tigers’ inability to capitalize on their interior advantage and second-chance opportunities, coupled with the catastrophic three-point shooting, proved insurmountable. The victory gave Arkansas-Pine Bluff its third win in its last four conference games. Grambling, which had won two straight coming in, saw its modest streak snapped in a defensive battle where points were at a premium until the frantic finish. Arkansas-Pine Bluff next hosts Alcorn State on Saturday. Grambling remains at home to face Alabama State on Saturday.