Mavs Cruise Past Mustangs 77-56
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Behind the 31st career double-double from senior Kevin Hervey, UTA men's basketball posted a 77-56 win over Cal Poly, on Thursday night at College Park Center.
The defending Sun Belt Conference Male Athlete of the Year, Hervey helped spur the Mavs to the win over Cal Poly (4-9). After a tight first half that ended with UTA leading 28-25, the Mavs used a furious run to open the second period to build a double-digit lead and coast to the win.
UTA (9-4) finished the game owning advantages in rebounding (39-36), second-chance points (11-8), bench points (20-8) and points in the paint (32-12). UTA held Cal Poly to 33 percent shooting from the field and finished shooting at a 43 percent clip.
UTA's win marks its second in the last three games, as the Mavs have faced a rugged non-conference schedule, earning a 20-point win at UTRGV before suffering a loss at No. 25 Creighton on Monday night.
Person, Troy hold off stubborn NAIA Milligan Buffaloes 80-67
DOTHAN, Ala. -- Wesley Person scored 23 points, and Juan Davis Jr. and B.J. Miller each contributed 13 as Troy survived several cold stretches to beat NAIA member Milligan College, 80-67 on Thursday night.
Troy led by as many as 23 points in the first half and held a 16-point advantage at intermission, but the Buffalos rallied, cutting the deficit to just five points, 49-44 on Mike Featherston's 3-pointer with 12:52 left.
Daxton Bostian hit a 3-pointer and David Casaday made two from deep in the final minutes, but Troy was able to answer each time.
Person was 5 of 16 from the field, including 3 of 10 from behind the 3-point arc, and converted all 10 of his free-throw attempts to lead the Trojans (6-7). Alex Hicks grabbed 12 rebounds and added nine points for Troy and Davis pulled down 10 boards.
Casaday finished with 16 points to lead Milligan.
Frazier, Blake help Tulane edge South Alabama 77-73
NEW ORLEANS -- Melvin Frazier scored 18 points, Blake Paul had 11 with a late steal that gave Frazier the clinching free throws with 1.3 seconds left and Tulane edged South Alabama 77-73 on Thursday.
Caleb Daniels had 12 points, including a 3-point play that put the Green Wave (9-3) up 74-71 with 28.6 seconds left. Cameron Reynolds had 14 points with a free throw that made it 75-73 with 16 seconds to play.
Rodrick Sikes had 34 points for the Jaguars (6-6) with two free throws that made it a one-point game with 18 seconds left and Josh Ajayi had 17 with the 3-pointer that tied the game at 71 at 49 seconds.
Tulane had early 7-0 and 6-0 runs for a 16-7 lead and then used a 10-0 run with a pair of 3-pointers to lead 28-12 with 8:50 to go in the first half. Sikes had seven points, five from the foul line, in a 9-0 surge that helped the Jags get within 44-33 at the half.
Sikes had 23 points, including his six 3-pointers, in the second half with his 4-point playing putting the Jags up 67-66 with 3:46 remaining.