Box Score
Trojans survive McNeese State, 78-68
Dec. 20, 2004
Box score
Richard Hardman scored 24 points and Zack Wright
came off the bench to hit for 22 as UALR survived a late scare from
McNeese State and downed the Cowboys, 78-68, Monday night at Alltel Arena.
Brandon Freeman added 15 for the Trojans
(6-4). Kinley Sellers scored 19 to lead the Cowboys (4-5).
"Both teams did a great job playing through the
situations we found ourselves in tonight with 54 fouls called," UALR coach
Steve Shields said.
The teams combined to shoot 66 free throws and four
technical fouls were called.
UALR led by 11 at the half, 36-25, and extended that
lead to 14 early in the second half. McNeese kept plugging, however, and
cut the advantage to single digits -- 53-45 -- on a layup by Ryan Price
with 12:12 left in the game.
The Trojans went back up by 10, 62-52, when Freeman
drove inside for a basket with 7:54 remaining. The Cowboys answered with a
trey from Troy Aaron and eventually got to within four, 72-68, with 1:32
to play.
UALR responded by making six consecutive free throws
-- four by Wright and two by Hardman -- in the final 1:05 while holding
McNeese scoreless to end the game.
"Our guys handled the pressure well," Shields said.
"We had 14 turnovers against a team that pressured us all the time. It was
a resilient effort on our guys' part."
UALR shot 39 free throws and made 28, both season
highs for the team. Wright hit 14-of-16 from the line, also both tops for
any UALR player this season.
The game was the second in UALR's five-game
homestand, the longest stretch of home games at Alltel Arena this season.
The Trojans, who now have an eight-day break, return to Alltel to host St.
Gregory's University at 7 p.m. on Dec. 29. UALR plays Harding at 2 p.m. on
Jan. 2, and begins Sun Belt Conference play by hosting Florida
International at 7 p.m. on Jan. 6.
