TUESDAY, JANUARY 9
South Alabama romps past Trinity Baptist 99-34
MOBILE, Ala. -- Rodrick Sikes and Jordan Andrews had 16 points apiece as South Alabama thumped National Christian College Athletic Association's Trinity Baptist 99-34 on Tuesday night.
Nick Davis added 14 points and Kevin Morris chipped in 12 for South Alabama (9-8), which took a break from Sun Belt Conference action after dropping two straight games. Trhae Mitchell had eight points with 10 rebounds and Morris grabbed nine boards as the Jaguars won the rebound battle 45-27.
South Alabama shot 58 percent (40-69) from the floor while limiting the Eagles to 12-of-50 shooting (24 percent).
Trinity Baptist was never really in the game as the Jaguars sprinted to an 18-0 lead, winning the first half 59-14. They led 77-22 at the 11:31 mark of the second period.
USA will return to conference play on Saturday when the Jaguars host Troy.
Chandler Rivers led Trinity Baptist with 10 points.
THURSDAY, JANUARY 11
Georgia State gets past Appalachian State 71-58
BOONE, N.C. -- Jeff Thomas had 22 points and eight rebounds as Georgia State took an early lead, then stayed even with Appalachian State in the second half for a 71-58 victory on Thursday night.
Devin Mitchell added 13 points and D'Marcus Simonds and Isaiah Williamschipped in 11 apiece for Georgia State (12-6, 3-2 Sun Belt), which won its third straight.
The Panthers shot 48 percent (28-59) from the floor while limiting Appalachian State to 21-of-59 shooting (36 percent). The Mountaineers made just 9 of 29 field goal attempts in the first half, missing 10 from long range. Georgia State hit 47 percent (16-34).
Williams drilled a 3-pointer in the final second for a 39-26 halftime advantage. The Mountaineers opened the second period on an 8-0 run to close to 39-34. Georgia State answered with a 9-1 spurt to keep the Mountaineers at bay.
Ronshad Shabazz had 15 points and Isaac Johnson added nine with 10 rebounds for Appalachian State (8-10, 3-2).
Georgia Southern beats Coastal Carolina 77-66 behind Brown
CONWAY, S.C. -- Tookie Brown scored 22 points, Ike Smith added 19, and Georgia Southern beat Coastal Carolina 77-66 on Thursday night to win its third straight.
Montae Glenn scored 17 points for the Eagles (13-5, 4-1 Sun Belt), who made 10 3-pointers and 21 free throws.
Coastal Carolina closed to 46-39 on Demario Beck's layup early in the second half, but the Eagles pulled steadily away, building a 15-point lead, 72-57, after Glenn's back-to-back dunks amid an 8-0 run with 1:47 left.
The Chanticleers took a 10-8 lead on Ajay Sanders' jumper amid an 8-0 run, but Ike Smith's 3 put the Eagles back on top, 15-14, and Georgia Southern never trailed again. Brown's free throws and 3-pointer sparked an 11-4 run and the Eagles led 37-26 at halftime behind Smith's 13 points.
Jaylen Shaw scored 21 points with five assists, Zac Cuthbertson added 15 points with eight boards, and Beck had 11 points for Coastal Carolina (7-11, 1-4), which has lost four straight.
Jones has 24 as Little Rock upsets UT Arlington 77-65
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Andre Jones had 24 points with eight rebounds, and Jaizec Lottie added a career-high 16 points as Little Rock upset UT Arlington 77-65 on Thursday night.
UT Arlington, the preseason Sun Belt Conference favorite, had won two consecutive games and Little Rock had dropped two straight prior to facing off Thursday.
The Trojans (5-13, 2-3) jumped out to an early lead and never trailed, taking a 39-32 lead into the break. UTA stayed within striking distance and closed to 48-43 following a Johnny Hamilton dunk at the 13:47 mark. The Trojans responded with a 10-2 run for a 58-45 lead midway in the second period and then kept a double-digit lead the rest of the way.
Ryan Pippins had 11 points and Ben Marcus added 10 for the Trojans.
Kevin Hervey led UTA (11-7, 2-3) with 21 points and seven rebounds. Hamilton added 14 points while grabbing 11 rebounds.
Texas State holds on to beat Arkansas State 73-67
JONESBORO, Ark. -- Tre'Larenz Nottingham had 17 points and Nijal Pearsonadded 13 with 10 rebounds as Texas State held on for a 73-67 Sun Belt Conference win over Arkansas State on Thursday night.
Nottingham hit 3 of 7 from distance while dishing out five assists with two steals. Pearson, who had his second double-double this season, also had two steals. Immanuel King was 5 of 8 from the floor for 13 points with six rebounds for Texas State (11-7, 4-1), which has won four straight.
The Bobcats took a 33-30 lead into the break and trailed briefly in the second half. Arkansas State's Deven Simms scored seven straight points and Rashad Lindsey added a jumper for a 44-42 lead at the 13:42 mark. Pearson responded with a layup to spark a 10-2 run. Nottingham nailed two straight treys to go ahead 64-52 with 5:17 left.
Simms finished with 23 points for the Red Wolves (6-12, 1-4).