Simonds leads Georgia State over rival 83-66
ATLANTA -- D'Marcus Simonds had 24 points and 10 rebounds to lead Georgia State to an 83-66 victory over rival Georgia Southern on Saturday.

Isaiah Williams added 16 points in reaching 1,000 for his career, Jeff Thomasmade all five of his 3-point tries for 15 and Malik Benlevi scored 11 for the Panthers (14-6, 5-2 Sun Belt), who have defeated the Eagles eight consecutive times on their home floor.

Another streak continued as Panthers coach Ron Hunter coached barefoot, the 11th straight year he has done so -- and all in victories. Hunter kicks off his shoes to raise awareness for Samaritan's Feet, which distributes shoes globally.

Ike Smith led the Eagles (14-6, 5-2), whose four-game win streak ended, with 16 points. Quan Jackson added 11 and B.J. Gladden 10 while Montae Glenn had 11 rebounds with nine points.

The Panthers outscored the Eagles 25-11 over the final 10 minutes.

Ajayi, Rodrick lead South Alabama past Appalachian State 83-77
MOBILE, Ala. -- Josh Ajayi scored the game-winner with 44 seconds to go, Rodrick Sikes scored eight of the last 10 points and South Alabama held off Appalachian State 83-77 on Saturday.

Neither team led by more than nine during a contest that saw five ties and five lead changes. Griffin Kinney knotted the score for Appalachian State three times down the stretch. Each time Sikes put the Jaguars back in the lead.

Sikes scored 26 points for South Alabama (11-9, 4-3 Sun Belt) -- making 13 of 14 at the free-throw line -- and Ajayi picked up his fifth double-double with 24 points and 11 rebounds.

Kinney scored 14 points for the Mountaineers (8-12, 3-4) on 6 of 9 shooting. Justin Forrest scored 15, and O'Showen Williams 12. Ronshad Shabazz, one of the Sun Belt's top four scorers, was held to three points on 1-for-14 shooting.

South Alabama won the battle on the glass, 35-27, its 16 defensive rebounds aiding in 11 points on the fast break.

Coastal Carolina stages a comeback to beat Troy, 74-73TROY, Ala. -- Amidou Bamba tipped in a missed jumper by Jaylen Shaw to give Coastal Carolina a two-point lead with under two minutes left and the Chanticleers made it hold up for a 74-73 comeback win over Troy in a Sun Belt Conference battle Saturday.

Jordon Varnado cut the lead to one with the first of two free throws with 1:36 left, but missed a second to tie the game and the Trojans never got off a shot in the final minute.

The Chanticleers roared back from a 14-point halftime deficit. Zac Cuthbertsonsandwiched a pair of layups around a 3 to give Coastal Carolina the lead with 3:05 left, 72-69, but Kevin Baker hit a 3 with 2:46 left to tie it at 72-all.

Cuthbertson scored 21 points to lead Coastal Carolina (8-13, 2-6). Shaw finished with 13 points and dished six assists.

Varnado finished with 21 points to lead Troy (8-11, 2-4)k with Juan Davis Jr. adding 14.

UTA rolls to 71-55 win over ULM
ARLINGTON, Texas -- Kevin Hervey scored 21 points and grabbed eight rebounds as UT Arlington rolled to 71-55 win over Louisiana Monroe on Saturday afternoon.

Hervey shot 6 of 12 from the field and 7 of 8 from the foul line for the Mavericks (13-8, 4-4 Sun Belt). Davion Turner added 10 points, Erick Neal had nine points and Johnny Hamilton led the team with 11 rebounds in addition to his six points.

UTA held ULM to 31 percent shooting and had a 49-33 rebounding edge. The Mavericks dominated in the paint, outscoring Louisiana Monroe 28-6.

UTA led for all but 1:08 in the first half and was up 42-27 at the break. The Mavericks led throughout the second half and Turner sank a pair of 3-pointers to stretch it to 58-46 with eight minutes left.

Michael Ertel scored 16 points with eight rebounds for the Warhawks (7-11, 1-6) who are on a four-game skid. Sam McDaniel added 14 points and Travis Munnings 13.

Louisiana throttles Texas State 80-55 behind barrage of 3s
SAN MARCOS, Texas -- Malik Marquetti scored 19 points, Frank Bartley IV and Justin Miller each scored 14, and Louisiana strengthened its grip atop the Sun Belt Conference with an 80-55 win against Texas State on Saturday.

Louisiana (17-3, 7-0) sits 1 1/2 games ahead of second place Texas State (13-8, 6-2) and has won seven straight and 14 of its last 15. The loss snapped the Bobcats' six-game win streak.

Louisiana never trailed and made it 20-6 when Johnathan Stove made a layup, Marquetti and Bartley had consecutive 3s and Bryce Washington had a dunk with nine minutes before halftime. The Bobcats got back-to-back 3-point plays from Isaiah Gurley and Tre'Larenz Nottingham and Immanuel King added layup to narrow the deficit to 20-14. The Ragin' Cajuns then closed the half with a 12-6 run.

The lead went to 45-28 four minutes into the second half with Marquetti burying two 3s and Bartley adding another. Louisiana was 13 of 25 (52 percent) from 3-point range.

Shelby Adams led Texas State with 10 points.

Gillard score 23 in Arkansas State's in 70-62 victory
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -- Grantham Gillard made five of Arkansas State's season-high 13 3-pointers and scored 23 points and the Red Wolves defeated Little Rock 70-62 on Saturday night.

Arkansas State shot better from the arc (56.5 percent) than overall (51 percent) and even the free-throw line (45 percent). Ty Cockfield and Deven Simms added 11 points each for the Red Wolves (7-13, 2-5 Sun Belt), who snapped a five-game losing streak.

The Red Wolves were up by nine after a Marquis Eaton 3 with 3:38 to go before Little Rock cut it to five. But Simms then had a basket and Rashad Lindsey two free throws while the Trojans managed only a free throw.

Arkansas State overcame an early 13-point deficit, ending the first half on a 16-5 run to lead 35-28.