Box Score LITTLE ROCK – Defensive stops were at a premium for UALR (5-8, 0-3 SBC), who allowed South Alabama (3-10, 1-2 SBC) to shoot nearly 48 percent from the floor and hit seven 3-pointers in a 72-69 defeat Monday night at the Jack Stephens Center. Roger Woods posted his first career double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds.
Despite hitting seven 3-pointers of their own and turning it over just eight times, UALR led for just 5:06 and trailed the final 9:09 of the contest. South Alabama started the game hot from 3, knocking down 6 of 10 in the first half before hitting just 1 of 7 of the final 20 minutes. But the Jaguars built a four-point lead at halftime that UALR wasn't able to find a way to dig out of.
In addition to Woods, Ben Dillard (13) and Josh Hagins (10) both finished in double figures for UALR. Hagins handed out a team-high four assists and had two steals. DeVonte Smith totaled a game-high three steals on the night.
Down four, UALR scored seven of the first 10 points out of halftime to tie the game at 40-all. The score would be knotted again at 42-, 44- and 46-all, before a 3-point play by Hagins gave the Trojans a 49-48 lead with 12:15 left to play.
That advantage would be short-lived, as South Alabama converted two free throws on its next possession to regain the lead at 50-49. Hagins found Reid for a corner 3 on UALR's next trip to give UALR a 52-50 lead, but South Alabama would score the next seven points to take a 57-52 lead with under eight minutes to play. UALR was never able to regain the lead.
The Trojans got the margin as close as one in the final seconds. Down four, Hagins was fouled on 3-point attempt with just seconds left on the clock. He made all three, and UALR immediately fouled on the inbound pass. Dionte Ferguson went to the line and hit both to put the Jags back up three, and Hagins' desperation 3 as time expired was off the mark.
Georgi Boyanov totaled 16 points and 13 rebounds for South Alabama. Ferguson scored a game-high 25 points while blocking three shots.
Despite shooting 41.1 percent from the floor and hitting five 3-pointers in the first half, UALR found itself facing a 37-33 deficit at intermission.
UALR got off to a hot start, scoring the first five points of the game before South Alabama tallied eight of the next nine to take a two-point lead and force a Trojan timeout 3:36 into the contest. The Jaguars continued to control the game, using five early 3-pointers to build a 22-14 lead. But the Trojans answered the bell, running off seven unanswered on jumpers by Dillard and Hagins to pull within one.
That run would mark the first of three times UALR cut South Alabama's lead to one, but each time the Jags had an answer. After Smith's 3-pointer made it 29-28 with 4:13 to go in the half, USA scored four of the next six to get its lead back to five. The Jags went into the locker room with a 37-33 lead after hitting 6 of 10 3-pointers and 12 of 24 shots from the field over the first 20 minutes.
UALR is back in action Thursday night at Texas State. Tip is set for 7:30 p.m.
