Thursday (and Friday) Games in the Sun Belt

There are four games in the Sun Belt Conference Thursday night and a nationally televised game on Friday as the season enters its final three weeks.  You can read a preview of Louisiana and Texas State here.

Here are the other games around the league

THURSDAY

UTA (16-10, 7-6) at ULM (11-12, 5-7) 7:00 pm--The Mavericks have been playing better basketball, but most of that has been at the College Park Center.  UTA is 1-5 in league road games.  Sharp shooting led the Warhawks to a pair of overtime wins in the state of Georgia and garnered Sam McDaniel SBC Player of the Week honors.  ULM now finds itself just a game out in the loss column for a bye and they have four out of six at home.  Big one for both teams tonight.

TROY (12-13, 6-6) at COASTAL CAROLINA (11-15, 5-8) 6:30 pm --The Chants won the first meeting between the two teams, coming from behind to win in Troy 74-73,  Coastal hasn't dominated teams at the HTC and Troy hopes that is good news.  The defending tournament champions are just 1-5 in league play on the road.  Troy is in the logjam for a first round bye but they have four of six on the road.

SOUTH ALABAMA (13-12, 6-6) at APPALACHIAN STATE (11-15, 6-7) 6:30 ESPN3--There has been no team in the league with a bigger home/road discrepancy than South Alabama.  The Jags are 11-2 at home this year and have lost at home once in conference play against in-state rival Troy.  On the road?  The Jags are 0-10.  And, four of their last six are away from the Mitchell Center.  App State is in the mix four the top four and they've got a favorable schedule the rest of the way...but taking care of their business at home is a big deal right now.  South Alabama won by six in their first meeting.

FRIDAY--GEORGIA STATE (19-7, 10-3) at GEORGIA SOUTHERN (16-10, 7-6)  8:00 PM (ESPN2)--Georgia State won the first meeting between the two schools, but the Eagles are quick to point out they were without Tookie Brown, who was sidelined with a concussion.  Georgia Southern has lost three straight, however and they are just 3-3 in Sun Belt games at Hanner Fieldhouse.  Both teams need this one.  The Eagles want to stay in position to get a bye. The Panthers are trying to win a regular season title.  One thing is certain.  Hanner will be rocking Friday night.