In addition to FIU’s upset of DU at the end of the day, there were seven other men’s and women’s game played at Summit Arena and the Hot Spring’s Convention Center today.
Men’s games
Western Kentucky 66, Louisiana-Monroe 50
The Hilltoppers advanced despite a lackluster first half performance. Behind the performances of Sergio Kerusch, Juan Pattilo and Steffon Pettigrew, who finished with 20, 18 and 15 points, respectively, WKU edged the ULM with a big second half, 42-27. In addition, the Hilltoppers were able to outrebound 44-33, winning the glass battle on both the offensive and defensive end.
North Texas 83, Troy 69
North Texas was able to erase an early lead and finished strong against Troy with five players recording double figure point totals. Dominque Johnson led all scorers with 18 bench points from a 4 of 6 night behind the three point arc. George Odufuwa finished with a double-double, adding 17 points and grabbing 13 rebounds. The senior was also a good teammate, dishing out six assists.
Arkansas Little-Rock 82, South Alabama 68
While the Pioneers were next store getting thumped by FIU, Arkansas Little-Rock was pulling off an upset of their own, edging No.4-seeded South Alabama. The Trojans shot 49 percent from the field and were led by Conference Player of the Year Solomon Bozeman, who erupted for a game-high 28 points. Despite 12 turnovers, UALR was able to clinch the victory with good free throw shooting, going 25 of 30 from the line.
Women’s games
Western Kentucky 81, North Texas 66
Senior Amy McNear scored a season-high 25 points in WKU’s first round victory over North Texas. McNear led all scorers, however the Hilltoppers (13-16) had a dynamic afternoon on the offensive end with four players scoring in double figures. In the first half, the squads exchanged 11 lead changes, but WKU took control of the game in the second half, going ahead by as many as 17 points late in the contest. The Mean Green (5-25) were the first team to exit the tournament.
Arkansas State 66, Florida Atlantic 52
Forward Shay Scott and guards Meghan Lewis and Quinishia McDowell carried the Red Wolves (17-13) to a first round victory over FAU, recording 15 points each. By the time the game’s first ten minutes were played, ASU held a 23-point lead, going ahead at one point 27-4. Lewis scored all her points on five three pointers. The Owls (7-21) roared back cutting the lead to eight, however couldn’t overcome the big deficit.
Louisiana Monroe 60, Troy 51
The Warhawks (16-14) held on to their narrow lead, ousting the Trojans from the women’s field behind big performances from Priscilla Mbiandja, Elizabeth Torres and Larrie Williams. Troy (5-25) led the contest at halftime, but fell behind early on in second half and ULM held on, expanding their lead in the final minutes.
South Alabama 58, Louisiana Lafayette 53
The Jaguars shot 73 percent from the free throw line as the knocked off Louisiana Lafayette in the day’s closest game in the woman’s bracket. Sarda Peterson connected on four of her six attempted threes, leading USA (17-12) with 14 points. ULL (11-19) didn’t lead after the first two minutes.
