Ajayi has 18 points, South Alabama holds off Coastal Carolina 60-57
MOBILE, Ala. -- Josh Ajayi scored seven of his 18 points in the final minutes as South Alabama held off Coastal Carolina 60-57 on Thursday night to even its Sun Belt Conference record.

Coastal Carolina held a 34-30 halftime advantage and was ahead 50-47 with 7:22 left when the Jaguars made their late push. Rodrick Sikes made two free throws and Ajayi hit a jumper for a 51-50 lead with 4:54 remaining. Ajayi followed with two free throws and drilled a trey for a 56-52 lead with 3:23 left. Trhae Mitchell had a layup and Herb McGee made two free throws for a 60-54 advantage with 14 seconds remaining.

Ajayi also grabbed 12 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season. Sikes added 15 points and Dederick Lee had five points while dishing out five assists with two steals for South Alabama (10-9, 3-3).

Demario Beck and Zac Cuthbertson had 11 and 10 points, respectively, for the Chanticleers (7-13, 1-6).

Louisiana roars back in 2nd half, beats UTA 77-65
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Frank Bartley IV scored 17 of his 26 points in the second half as Louisiana dominated the final period to beat UT Arlington 77-65 on Thursday night to remain alone and unbeaten atop the Sun Belt Conference.

Louisiana (16-3, 6-0), trailing 44-32 at the break, battled back to take its first lead, 51-50, following JaKeenan Gant's 3-pointer with 13:11 left. UTA was held scoreless for over eight minutes and the Ragin' Cajuns led 53-50 following Justin Miller's trey at the 9:12 mark.

Louisiana continued the push, outscoring UTA 15-7 down the stretch. The Ragin' Cajuns won the second half 45-21.
Bartley hit 7 of 13 from the floor and made all nine free throw attempts. Marcus Stromanadded 12 points while dishing out six assists and Bryce Washington chipped in nine points with 16 rebounds. Miller added 10 points for Louisiana.

Kevin Hervey led UTA (12-8, 3-4) with 25 points and nine boards.

Texas State holds off ULM 55-52
SAN MARCOS, Texas -- Nijal Pearson scored 17 points, Tre'Larenz Nottingham hit five 3s and scored 16 points, and Texas State held off Louisiana Monroe 55-52 on Thursday night to win its sixth straight.

The Bobcats led 44-30 on Isaiah Gurley's 3 pointer with 12 minutes left in the second half, but Michael Ertel hit a jumper and a 3 amid an 11-2 run and the Warhawks closed to 46-41. Marvin Jean-Pierre's 3 made it a two-point game with 4:16 to go, but Immanuel King and Alex Peacockeach hit layups and the Warhawks missed 3 of 4 free throws in the final 12 seconds.

The Bobcats (13-7, 6-1 Sun Belt Conference) shot 40 percent from the field and 9 of 24 from 3, but turned it over 15 times for 19 Warhawks points.

Ertel scored 18 points, Sam McDaniel had 11 with three 3s, and Jean-Pierre had 10 for the Warhawks (7-10, 1-5), who have lost three straight.