Kent State uses late run to beat UL Monroe 73-62

KENT, Ohio (AP) Kellon Thomas and Xavier Pollard had 16 points apiece and Kent State beat UL Monroe 73-62 in the first sub-regional night of the Continental Tire Las Vegas Classic on Thursday.

Jaylin Walker added 11 points for the Golden Flashes (6-2), who led by no more than six until they pulled away late with an 8-0 run. Deon Edwin's dunk near the end of the run gave them their first double-digit lead and Pollard capped it at 62-50 with 1 of 2 free throws and 3:39 left.

Kent State made 7 of 8 free throws from there and the Warhawks (4-3) got no closer than 68-59 on Jamaal Samuel's 3-pointer with 1:42 left.

Samuel had 18 points for UL Monroe, which was without head coach Keith Richard (illness) and leading scorer Majok Deng due to a lower leg injury. Nick Coppola added 15 points and DeMondre Harvey scored 10.

Deng, who averaged 18.3 points and 7.3 rebounds this season, sustained the injury earlier in the week and has no timetable for his return.

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Seton Hall pulls away in second half to beat Troy 78-69

NEWARK, N.J. (AP) Isaiah Whitehead had 20 points and Desi Rodriguez added 18 points and 11 boards to help Seton Hall beat Troy 78-69 on Thursday night.

Khadeen Carrington gave the Pirates (7-2) a 39-30 lead on a 3-pointer to open the second half and their largest lead at 70-55 on another 3 with 4:30 left.

Jordon Varnado hit a pair of 3s and Wesley Person and Jaro Moravek each added another in the final minutes for Troy (4-5), but Seton Hall held on.

Angel Delgado added 12 points and 11 boards, Carrington 11 and Michael Nzei 10 for Seton Hall.

Varnado had 25 points and 11 rebounds with 5-of-6 shooting from 3-point range for the Trojans. Wesley Person added 14 points and Jeremy Hollimon scored 12.

Troy fell behind early but answered with a 13-0 run and led 27-19 in the first half before Seton Hall closed with 10 straight points.