Saturday’s Scores from the Sun Belt

With the Louisiana schools having played on Friday against the Georgia schools, there were four games on tap Saturday in the Sun Belt Conference.  And, there is now a two way tie for first in the league.

TEXAS STATE 65, COASTAL CAROLINA 57--For the second straight game, Coastal Carolina's shooting dug a hole they couldn't crawl out of.  The Chants(12-11, 6-5) shot under 40% in both halves and made just 3-20 from three point range.  Texas State led from tip to buzzer and led by 17 points at the half.  Coastal managed to cut the lead to three points in the second half, but got no closer.  Nijal Pearson scored 17 points for Texas State (19-5, 8-3 Sun Belt), while Tre' Nottingham and Alex Peacock added 14 points each.  Zac Cuthbertson had 15 for Coastal.

UTA 78, APPALACHIAN STATE 68--Brian Warren had 22 points and nine assists as the Mavericks (12-12, 8-3 Sun Belt) remained in a tie for first place.  The Mavs led by just two points at halftime, but started the second half on an 13-5 run and App State (8-16, 3-8) never got closer than nine points.  UTA had 24 assists in the game and just six turnovers.  Ronshad Shabazz led the Mountaineers with 15 points.

TROY 84, ARKANSAS STATE 79--The Trojans hit 12 three pointers Saturday and never trailed in the second half against the Red Wolves.  Javan Johnson led the Trojans (11-12, 4-7 Sun Belt) with 20 points as the Trojans got the victory despite missing leading scorer Jordan Varnado for the second straight game.  Ty Cockfield made just 8-23 from the field, but led Arkansas State with 27 points.  The Red Wolves (10-14, 4-7) made just 5-20 three point shots in the contest.  The win for Troy snapped a four game losing streak.

LITTLE ROCK 73, SOUTH ALABAMA 68--The Trojans erased a nine point halftime deficit, outscoring the Jaguars 44-30 in the second half to sweep their Alabama trip.  Rayjon Tuckers scored 24 points, 17 of them in the second half to lead Little Rock (9-15, 4-7 Sun Belt) to the win.  Neither team shot the three pointer well, with the Trojans making 4-24, while the Jaguars (12-12, 5-6) made just 5-20.  Rodrick Sikes came off the bench to score 19 points for South Alabama.  The game was marred by 46 fouls and 65 free throws.  Little Rock outscored the Jags 29-21 at the charity stripe to snap South's three game winning streak.