Men's Basketball Sun Belt Conference

Men's Basketball Weekly Notes

NEW ORLEANS – The Sun Belt Conference has another full weekend of conference action from Friday to Monday.

Last week, South Alabama continued its winning streak and took over first place in the East Division, while Texas State beat UTA to keep a two-game lead on Arkansas State in the West Division.

THIS WEEK’S MATCHUPS:
Friday, Feb. 19 South Alabama at App State 5 p.m. ESPN+
Friday, Feb. 19 Troy at Georgia State 5 p.m. ESPN+
Saturday, Feb. 20 Troy at Georgia State 3 p.m. ESPN+
Saturday, Feb. 20 South Alabama at App State 3 p.m. ESPN+
Sunday, Feb. 21 Georgia Southern at Coastal Carolina 4 p.m. ESPN+
Sunday, Feb. 21 Little Rock at ULM 4 p.m. ESPN+
Monday, Feb. 22 Little Rock at ULM 4 p.m. ESPN+
Monday, Feb. 22 UTA at Louisiana 5 p.m. ESPN+
Monday, Feb. 22 Texas State at Arkansas State 6 p.m. ESPN+
(All times are Central.)
 
  •  Arkansas State’s 39.9 three-point percentage ranks fourth in the NCAA.
  • Georgia State ranks 29th in the NCAA in assists per game (16.5) and is joined by Coastal Carolina that ranks 29th averaging 16.3.
  • Coastal Carolina’s 14.2 scoring margin ranks 16th in the NCAA.

2020 STATISTICS
Link to 2020-21 Sun Belt Conference Men's Basketball Stats
 

EAST DIVISION:
 
SOUTH ALABAMA (14-8, 8-5 SBC) at APP STATE (12-7, 6-4 SBC)
  • South Alabama is 10-3 overall in the series and 6-2 when hosting the Mountaineers. The Jaguars are 8-2 in the last 10 meetings and both teams split a series back in January.
  • The Jaguars, averaging 75.1 points, are ranked fifth in the SBC in scoring offense and will face App State’s second-ranked scoring defense that is holding opponents to 62.6 points per game.
  • Michael Flowers of South Alabama leads the team in scoring (21.2), field goals made (152), three-pointers made (68), and assists (72). His 21.2 points per game rank first in the league and 12th in the NCAA. Against App State, he is averaging 29 points per game and was the team’s leading scorer in both games on Jan. 15 and 16.
  • The Jaguars’ Jamal West and Kayo Goncalves have both cleaned up on the boards averaging 6.1 rebounds per game each. West tallied 23 rebounds combined against App State in January and was the team’s leading scorer for the series. Goncalves averaged seven rebounds in his last four games, including eight boards twice.
  •  App State’s Adrian Delph is averaging 12.4 points overall and 12.7 points in conference action. His 12.4 points lead the team and are 18th in the league. Delph has missed one foul shot all season going 30-of-31 this season for a team-leading .968 percentage. Against South Alabama, he is averaging 18.5 points and tallied a team-high 28 points against the Mountaineers on Jan. 16 in an 83-77 win.
  • James Lewis Jr. is averaging 5.2 rebounds per game to lead the Mountaineers and is averaging 6.6 boards in his last six games. In four of the six games, he was the leading scorer with a season-high 14 rebounds against Georgia State on Jan. 23.
 
TROY (10-12, 3-11 SBC) at GEORGIA STATE (9-5, 3-4 SBC)
  • Georgia State leads the series 20-19, but Troy is 7-3 in the last 10 meetings. The Panthers are 12-6 when hosting Troy. The Trojans are 3-1 in the last four meetings.
  • Georgia State is second in the league in scoring offense averaging 81.6 points per game (19th in the NCAA), while Troy is third in scoring defense holding opponents to an average of 67.0 points per game.
  •  In Troy’s last three games, Nick Stampley averaged 13.0 points per game. He is averaging 12.0 points overall on the season and 13.6 points in conference action. In a 73-70 loss on Feb. 11 against USA, he finished going 7-of-11 from the floor and 4-of-5 from the line while tallying a team-high 20 points.  Teammate Zay Williams is leading the team in rebounds, averaging 8.9 per game and 9.2 in conference action. His 196 total rebounds rank 14th in the NCAA and fourth in the conference.
  • Georgia State’s Eliel Nsoseme is averaging a double-double in points (12.8) and rebounds (10.4). In his last five games, he averaged 10.2 rebounds with a team-high of 12 twice. His 10.4 rebounds per game rank 14th in the nation.
  •  Corey Allen is averaging 15.3 points overall and in conference games this season to lead the Panthers. His .452 three-point percentage and 42 three-pointers made are a team-high this season.
 
GEORGIA SOUTHERN (12-10, 6-7 SBC) at COASTAL CAROLINA (12-6, 6-5 SBC)
  • The series between both teams is tied 6-6, with the Eagles 6-4 in the last 10 meetings. Georgia Southern is 5-1 in the last six meetings with the only CCU win coming back on Jan. 29.
  • Coastal Carolina’s 81.8 points per game this season ranks 17th in the NCAA and first in the league. The Chants are also first in the Sun Belt in scoring margin with a +14.2.
  •  Zack Bryant averaged 11.6 points in his last five games and 10.0 against Coastal this season. He leads the team in scoring averaging and is 13th in the conference with 13.6 points per game. Bryant’s 21 points against Georgia State on Feb. 11 is his second-high point total of the season (Season-high: 24 on Dec. 13).
  • Prince Toyambi leads the Eagles in rebounds, averaging 5.8 per game, and 128  total rebounds. He has been the team’s leading rebounder in the last four games, averaging 7.0 rebounds per game.
  • Coastal’s DeVante’ Jones ranks 18th in the NCAA and second in the Sun Belt in scoring averaging 20.6 points. In his last four games, he is averaging 14.25 points with a high of 27 coming against Georgia Southern on Jan. 30. His team-leading 58 steals this season ranks him first in the NCAA and the conference.
 
WEST DIVISION:

LITTLE ROCK (10-11, 6-8 SBC) at ULM (5-16, 3-11 SBC)
  • Little Rock is 22-17 in the all-time series and 4-0 in the last four meetings. ULM is 10-7 when hosting the Trojans with its last win at home, 79-62, being Mar. 9, 2019.
  • The Trojans have outrebounded their opponents 707 to 652, with 505 of the 707 coming off the defensive glass.
  • Little Rock’s Rout Monyyong is averaging a double-double in points (12.2) and rebounds (10.8). He is tied for third in the NCAA in double-doubles with 12. Against ULM in January, he tallied 21 rebounds in a 2-0 sweep.
  • Nikola Maric is averaging 14.1 points to rank first on the Trojans and eighth in the league. He is shooting a team-high .55.7 percent from the field. Against the Warhawks, he is averaging 12.5 points per game with a high of 18 points on Jan. 30.
  • ULM’s Russell Harrison leads the team in both scoring (13.8) and rebounds (5.8). Harrison is averaging 15.3 points per game in his last three-game where he was the team’s leading scorer in each of those games.   His 98 defensive rebounds rank eighth in the league and his 110 total rebounds are 17th.

UTA (11-11, 7-7 SBC) at LOUISIANA (14-7, 8-6 SBC)
  • Louisiana is 23-11 overall against the Mavericks following a 1-1 split early this season at UTA. The Ragin’ Cajuns are 11-4 when playing at home in the series and both teams are 3-3 in the last six meetings
  • The Mavericks have forced their opponents to commit 330 turnovers. UTA’s 181 steals is second in the league, and the team ranks third in steals per game (8.2).
  • UTA’s Shahada Wells tallied 41 points in two games last time against Louisiana to average 20.5 points.  In his last four games, he is averaging 16.75 points on 40.6 percent (26-of-64) from the field. Wells is averaging a team-high 16.6 points and ranks fourth in the Sun Belt this season.
  • Fredelin De La Cruz leads UTA in rebounding with 111 total rebounds and is averaging 5.3 rebounds per game. On Jan. 16 against Louisiana, he finished with a double-double in points (10) and rebounds (10).
  • Cedric Russell of Louisiana comes into the weekend averaging a team-leading 17.8 points per game, which ranks third in the conference. This season against UTA, he is averaging 16.5 points with a high of 17 points in a 91-86 loss on Jan. 15. Russell in his last three games is averaging 16.3 points while tallying a season-high 30 points on Feb. 6 against Arkansas State.
  •  Theo Akwuba has grabbed 194 rebounds which ranks him 15th in the NCAA and fourth in the Sun Belt. His 9.2 rebounds per game put him fourth in the league.
 
TEXAS STATE (15-6, 9-3 SBC) at ARKANSAS STATE (10-9, 7-5 SBC)
  • Texas State is 9-3 in the overall series and 2-0 this season against the Red Wolves. The Bobcats are 9-1 in the last 10 meetings. The last time Arkansas State won was Jan. 17, 2015, in a 78-73 overtime victory.
  • The Bobcats’ scoring defense (62.3) ranks first in the Sun Belt and 19th in the nation. Arkansas State’s scoring offense (75.4) ranks third in the league.
  • Mason Harrell leads Texas State in scoring (13.6), field goals made (102), and free-throws made (52). Harrell averaged 14.6 points in his last three games to guide the Bobcats to a 3-0 mark.
  • Isiah Small is first on the team in total rebounds (122) and rebounds per game (5.8). His 122 total rebounds are 12th in the conference. Small averaged 6.25 rebounds per game in his last four with a high of 10 rebounds on Feb. 13 against UTA.
  • Arkansas State’s Marquis Eaton claimed his second-straight SBC Conference Player of the Week honors after averaging 20 points and 6.5 assists to guide the Red Wolves to a sweep over Little Rock last week.  On the season, he is averaging 13.8 points and 5.1 assists. He has been the team’s leading scorer in the last six games.
  • Norchad Omier is averaging a double-double in points (12.4) and rebounds (11.6) this season. His 11 double-doubles this season are tied for sixth in the NCAA.


SUN BELT PLAYER OF THE WEEK HONORS
Week 1 – Justin Roberts, Georgia State
Week 2 – Markquis Nowell, Little Rock
Week 3 – Adrian Delph, App State
Week 4 – DeVante' Jones, Coastal Carolina
Week 5 – Corey Allen, Georgia State
Week 6 – Ben Coupet Jr., Little Rock
Week 7 – Rout Monyyong., Little Rock
Week 8 – Caleb Asberry, Texas State
Week 9 – DeVante' Jones, Coastal Carolina
Week 10 – Cedric Russell, Louisiana
Week 11 – Marquis Eaton, Arkansas State
Week 12 – Marquis Eaton, Arkansas State


SUN BELT CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP
The Sun Belt Conference Tournament will be held in Pensacola, Florida this March with all 12 teams competing in the single-elimination tournament. The tournament will be played March 5-8 at the Pensacola Bay Center and tickets are available through Ticketmaster. Pensacola will serve as home to the tournament through the 2024-25 season.