Box Score LITTLE ROCK - The UALR men's basketball team (9-13, 6-2 Sun Belt) made a season-high 10 three pointers en route to a commanding 75-50 victory over South Alabama (10-9, 2-6) at the Jack Stephens Center on Thursday night. The Trojans shot 45.5 percent from three-point range (10-of-22) in the win and led by at least double digits the rest of the night after building a 20-9 lead out of the gate.
The Trojans held a 35-22 lead at the intermission and opened the second half on a 17-4 run to put the game out of reach. Ten different players scored in the win for UALR, which led by as many as 29 points with 10:58 left in the game. The Trojans dashed any hopes of a South Alabama comeback by shooting 59.1 percent from the field in the second half (13-of-22), while going a perfect 10-for-10 at the foul line.
Senior D'Andre Williams led the Trojans with 14 points, five rebounds, a game-high six assists and two steals. Williams and sophomore Chuck Guy combined for 10 assists against just two turnovers, helping the Trojans post a 16-to-7 assist-to-turnover ratio. The Trojan defense, meanwhile, forced South Alabama into 18 turnovers which it parlayed into a 22-to-7 scoring advantage in points off turnovers.
Senior Courtney Jackson chipped in 12 points in 19 minutes of action by going 5-of-7 from the floor and 2-for-2 from three-point range, while sophomore Will Neighbour totaled 10 points over 19 minutes in his return to the starting lineup. Freshman Michael Javes added eight points, two blocks and a team-high eight rebounds to help UALR play to a 30-all standstill on the glass against a South Alabama squad which came into the game with a Sun Belt-best +8.2 rebounding margin.
Augustine Rubit led all players with 22 points off 7-of-10 shooting in the loss and added a team-high seven rebounds for the Jaguars. He was the only player to score in double figures for USA, with Dallas Jones adding nine points off the bench.
UALR received three pointers from four different players over the first 6:32 of the game as it ran out to a 16-7 lead after Jackson connected from beyond the arc at the 13:28 mark. Williams became the fifth Trojan to connect from three-point range moments later to give the Trojans a 15-point lead, 24-9, with 8:18 to go in the half.
UALR's lead reached as high as 19 points in the first half, 35-16, with 3:12 left to play following a quick 7-0 spurt. After a jumper by freshman Ben Dillard, Neighbour hit two free throws and sank a three pointer to give the Trojans the 35-16 edge. Down by 19, South Alabama managed to close out the half with six-unanswered points to make it a 35-22 contest at the break.
The Trojans managed to outrebound the Jaguars 19-to-18 over the first 20 minutes, with eight offensive boards. UALR forced South Alabama into eight first-half turnovers, and enjoyed a 10-0 scoring advantage in points off turnovers in the opening session.
Leading 35-22 at the start of the second half, the Trojans ripped off a 17-4 run and were never seriously threatened again. Jackson followed up a pair of free throws by Neighbour with seven-consecutive points, and Guy capped off the run with back-to-back three pointers to put the Trojans ahead 52-26 with 12:06 to go. UALR's lead reached as high as 29 points, 57-28, off a pair of foul shots by Williams at the 10:58 mark.
UALR returns to action Saturday night when it welcomes Denver to the Jack Stephens Center for a first-place showdown at 7 p.m. The two teams are currently tied atop the West Division standings with matching 6-2 records in league play. DU will look to avenge UALR's 66-59 win over the Pioneers at Magness Arena on Dec. 31.
