Box Score LAS VEGAS, Nev. – UALR (5-5) stopped a four-game losing streak with a 64-54 win over Bradley (4-8) in the consolation game of the South Point Hoops Holiday Classic at South Point Arena & Equestrian Center on Monday.
Using a four-guard lineup for the majority of the game, UALR knocked down eight 3-pointers and spread for the floor for Roger Woods, who totaled 17 points, five rebounds, three blocks and three steals in arguably his best all-around game as a Trojan. Woods finished the game shooting 7 of 10 from the floor while knocking down his only 3-point try.
Woods was named to the South Point Hoops All-Tournament team after averaging 17.5 points and 6.5 rebounds in UALR's two games.
Ben Dillard scored a season-high 14 points and grabbed four rebounds while J.T. Thomas scored 11 points and blocked two shots. As a team, UALR turned it over just eight times and blocked a season-high 10 shots.
UALR did a good deal of damage from the foul line, knocking down 22 of 35 attempts from the charity stripe compared to 12 of 22 for the Braves. Playing with a small lineup had its compromises, as the Trojans were outrebounded 50-33, including 25-8 on the offensive glass.
But Bradley was unable to parlay its size advantage into a scoring edge. The Braves shot just 28.6 percent from the floor, including just 10 of 37 attempts (27.0 percent) in the second half. UALR's quicker lineup was able to draw 27 fouls against the Bradley roster.
Leading by as many as 15 with 5:27 left in regulation, UALR allowed Bradley to claw its way back into the game. A 9-0 run by Bradley made it a six-point game with less than two minutes to play. Dillard hit two free throws on UALR's next possession, however, and Bradley would get no closer than six the rest of the way.
The second half began with Dillard scoring five of UALR's first seven points to help the Trojans build a 37-31 lead before the first media timeout. White followed a miss by DeVonte Smith to make it an eight-point margin, 39-31 with 15 minutes remaining.
UALR stretched its lead to 10 on back-to-back buckets by Woods. The 6-5 forward took a pass from James White and finished strong inside before blocking a shot on the other end, then knocking down a triple when UALR came back on offense. That sequence pushed UALR's lead to 46-36 with 12:14 to play.
Thomas' second 3-pointer of the game put the Trojans up 11, 49-38, with 8:29 left on the clock. Woods finished along with baseline with his left hand just under a minute later to make it a 13-point margin. Following a jumper by Bradley's Omari Grier, Josh Hagins hit a corner 3 off an in-bounds to give UALR a 54-40 lead.
UALR took a 29-24 lead into halftime thanks in large part to a 12-of-16 effort at the foul line in the opening half.
The small lineup paid dividends early, as UALR jumped out to a quick 10-2 lead on the Braves. With the Trojans' four guards spacing the floor, Woods was able to find driving lanes that created four early points. Both James Reid and Dillard knocked down 3-pointers in the game's opening minutes.
UALR's lead grew as large as nine on a woods jumper that made it 14-5 at the first half's 13:26 mark. But UALR would not hit another field goal until Woods' next basket at the 3:55 mark.
Bradley began to work its way back into the game, scoring seven of the game's next nine points to pull within four with 9:39 left in the first half. A jumper by Omari Grier at the 5:18 mark briefly tied the game at 19-all. UALR answered by scoring the next three points and eight of the next 10 to take a 27-21 lead on 3 by Thomas with 2:06 left in the half. Dillard added two free throws and UALR took a 29-24 lead into halftime.
UALR will be back in action Tuesday, Dec. 30 when it opens Sun Belt play against Louisiana at the Jack Stephens Center.
