ULM Takes Over First Place in Sun Belt

Louisiana’s Ragin’ Cajuns’ upset loss to South Alabama was only one in a big day of surprises in the league.  Four of the five favorites lost, and that leaves UL Monroe in sole possession of first place after Saturday action.

UL MONROE 64, ARKANSAS-LITTLE ROCK 52—In Monroe, ULM won its fifth straight game by beating UALR at Fant-Ewing Coliseum.  It’s the first time the Warhawks have ever won five straight Sun Belt Conference games.  ULM (11-6, 5-1) got balanced scoring with five players in double figures.  Nick Coppola matched his season high with 15 points.  Majok Deng scored 14 points and snared 14 rebounds for the Warhawks.  UALR (6-10, 1-5) was held to just 28 percent shooting.  Josh Hagins led the Trojans with 15 points.  It’s the first time ULM has won five league games in a row since doing it in the Southland Conference in the 2001-02 season.  ULM is 8-0 at home this year.

APPALACHIAN STATE 74, GEORGIA STATE 69—The Mountaineers trailed by eleven points in the second half before roaring back to pull the upset over the defending Sun Belt regular season champions.  App State (5-10, 2-4) trailed 56-45 with 10:55 to go in the game, but used a 20-8 run to capture the lead with 5:38 left.  Tommy Spagnolo scored on a pair of dunks late, the final one with :21 left to give the Mountaineers the lead for good.  Spagnolo also hit 4-4 free throws in the final seconds to ice the victory.  App hit a season high 12 three point baskets including eight by Frank Eaves en route to the victory. Eaves had 27 points in the game, tying a career high, while Spagnolo added 22.  Ryan Harrow led Georgia State (11-7, 4-3) with 21 points.  R. J. Hunter added 16, but went without a field goal in the second half.

TROY 75, GEORGIA SOUTHERN 71—Kelton Ford had a career high 26 points to pace the Trojans (7-8, 2-4) to an upset over the Sun Belt co-leaders at Trojan Arena.  Ford hit six three pointers in the game, doubling his season total.  Musa Abdul-Aleef came off the bench to score 23 points.  Jelani Hewitt led Georgia Southern (11-4, 4-2) with 28 points.  Troy trailed 65-64 with 2:16 to play, but a pair of Ford free throws put the Trojans on top for good.  The Trojans made 10-11 free throws down the stretch to ice the game. Georgia Southern hit just 10-32 from beyond the arc, while Troy was 12-23.  The Trojans were 19-24 from the free throw line, while Georgia Southern was just 5-7.

ARKANSAS STATE 78, TEXAS STATE 73 (OT) –The Red Wolves rallied from nine points down in the second half to notch their second straight win Saturday night at the Convocation Center in Jonesboro.  A-State (8-8, 3-4) was led by Anthony Livingston who tallied 24 points and 15 rebounds, while Cameron Golden added 22.  Texas State’s Wes Davis hit a three pointer with nine second left to force overtime.  Livingston’s layup with :36 left in overtime gave Arkansas State the lead for good.  Ethan Montalvo led three Bobcats (10-6, 4-3) with 18 points.