Going viral

In a moment that got national attention last Wednesday night, UAPB Coach Solomon Bozeman put his players on the baseline — in the middle of a game.

But as Bozeman explained, it was something he’d discussed with his team well before that trip to Iowa State.

“After the Arkansas Baptist game, our staff didn’t feel like we communicated and played as hard as we should,” Bozeman said, adding that his team had a 40-minute workout following the Golden Lions’ win that night. “We basically came up it as a group and a staff that if we felt like [the players] weren’t communicating at a high level, the guys would run.

“The guys were OK with it. The staff was OK with it. We agreed to it, so that’s what you saw when those guys ran.”

The video, which was posted to Twitter during the game and currently has more than 700,000 views, last only 11 seconds but shows multiple UAPB players sprinting back from midcourt before heading into a huddle during a timeout early in the second half.

It came immediately after the Cyclones had scored on a breakaway dunk, a possession that reflected a lack of communication from Bozeman’s perspective.

He didn’t realize until Thursday morning that his team had gone viral, and Bozeman said Tuesday he’s unlikely to have his team run during a game again. Part of that is because of the attention it received last week and part of it is because he learned from officials that his players have to stay on their side of the court during a timeout.

Furthermore, Bozeman said hopes there doesn’t have to be more moments like that as the Golden Lions (19) close nonconference play this month. They’ll play just their second home game of the season tonight against Arkansas State (5-2).

“[We just need to] compete at a high level for 40 minutes and do the tough things,” Bozeman said. “If we do those things, I think we have a chance to win every game we play.”