Louisiana-Lafayette 110, Western Kentucky 102
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (AP) Antoine Landry scored 27 points to lead six players in double figures as Louisiana-Lafayette overcame a 40-point performance by Western Kentucky's Anthony Winchester and beat the Hilltoppers 110-102 Thursday night.
Brian Hamilton scored 22 for the Ragin' Cajuns (10-5, 5-1 Sun Belt Conference), Brad Boyd added 19, Orien Greene 11 and Chris Cameron and Dwayne Mitchell 10 apiece. Hamilton also had 10 rebounds.
Winchester was 15-of-21 from the floor, including 5-of-9 from 3-point range, and 5-of-6 from the line for his career-high point total. The Hilltoppers (8-10, 3-4) had five players in double figures. Mike Wells scored 17, Antonio Haynes 14 and Ryan Lambert and Nigel Dixon 10 each.
The game was close until Louisiana-Lafayette went on a 14-5 run during the early part of the second half, turning a 56-54 lead into a 70-59 advantage with just over 12 minutes to play.
Western Kentucky rallied and closed within four points on a Lambert basket with 9:24 to play, but the Ragin' Cajuns rebuilt the lead with the Hilltoppers never getting closer than six points over the final seven minutes, and that coming on Winchester's 3-point basket with 9.5 seconds to play.
The win snapped a 29-game home Sun Belt win streak for WKU.
New Mexico State 81, Middle Tennessee 76
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (AP) James Moore stole the ball and hit two free throws with six seconds left Thursday night to seal New Mexico State's 81-76 victory over Middle Tennessee.
Moore scored 24 points to lead the Aggies (9-9, 3-4 Sun Belt Conference), who shot a scorching 61 percent from the field. Allen Haynes scored 13 points and Kelsey Crooks had 12 for New Mexico State. Duane John added 10.
Mike Dean scored 22 points for the Blue Raiders (11-7, 3-2), including five 3-pointers. Tommy Gunn scored 13 of his 18 points in the first half for Middle Tennessee, and also had six rebounds. Michael Cuffee had 11 points.
The game was tied four times in the first half before New Mexico State took a 42-38 halftime lead. It remained closed but the Aggies managed a little breathing room when Crooks hit a 3-pointer with 5:27 left to give New Mexico State a 66-60 lead.
Middle Tennessee came back and trailed 74-73 after a 3-pointer by Dean, capping a 13-6 run by the Blue Raiders with 1:21 to play.
But a layup by Moore and two free throws by Byron Davis with 25 seconds left gave the Aggies a 78-73 lead.
New Orleans 77, North Texas 76 (OT)
DENTON, Texas (AP) Johnell Smith hit the winning layup for New Orleans and North Texas missed six consecutive free throws in the final 1:34 of overtime as the Privateers beat the Mean Green 77-76 on Thursday night.
North Texas (9-9, 4-2) trailed 28-22 at halftime after shooting 28 percent from the floor. They improved to 46 percent in the second half and sent the game into overtime with 33 seconds left in regulation when Jerome Rogers hit a jumper to tie it at 67-67.
In overtime, Justin Barnett gave North Texas a 73-72 lead with 1:49 remaining when he connected on a layup.
Smith, who had 17 points on the night, responded for New Orleans with a layup to make it 74-73.
New Orleans (10-9, 4-2) was led by Bo McCalebb, who scored 18 points. Billy McDade added 10 points, including the game's final score, an off-balance 3-pointer.
Denver 78, South Alabama 59
DENVER (AP) Zeljko Zupic scored 16 points to pace five Denver players in double figures, and the Pioneers beat South Alabama 78-59 on Thursday night.
Denver (11-7, 3-3 Sun Belt) got 14 points and nine rebounds from Brett Starkey. Yemi Nicholson scored 11 points, and Rodney Billups and Antonio Porch each had 10.
Michael Phillips scored 13 points and was the only player in double figures for South Alabama (9-9, 3-3).
Denver outshot South Alabama 52 percent to 42 percent. The Pioneers also hit 15-of-22 free throws compared to the Jaguars' 4-of-11.
Denver forged a 15-point lead midway through the first half and increased it to 22 before South Alabama cut the deficit to 39-24 at halftime. Denver led by as many as 23 points in the second half.