UALR’s Burns blazes path to court time

UALR 97, HOWARD 76

Deondre Burns said it has taken awhile to find his basketball groove after sitting out last season as a redshirt at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock.

“It’s different,” said Burns, a junior from Yazoo City, Miss. “I’ve got to find my role on the team.”

Burns went a long way toward clarifying his usage Friday afternoon during UALR’s 97-76 victory over Howard at the Jack Stephens Center.

Burns scored a career-high 29 points on 9 of 10 from the field and 7 of 8 from the freethrow line in a performance that reinforced several things Coach Darrell Walker already knew.

“He’s a scorer,” Walker said of Burns, who scored 21 of his points in the second half to help the Trojans (3-2) stay comfortably in front af- ter building a 51-30 halftime lead. “That’s why I want him to come off the bench. He’s my sixth man. He can score.”

Walker said his coaching staff reminded him that Burns’ 14-point performance was one positive development

that came out of Monday’s 88-78 loss to Tulsa.

“They said, ‘Coach, he got to see the ball go in, ’ ” Walker said. “Hopefully it will carry over, and it did.”

And then some. Burns, a 6-2 guard, was 4 for 4 in 14 first-half minutes as the Trojans opened up a 21-point lead over Howard (4-2).

All of Burns’ first-half baskets were midrange jumpers, and his confidence grew in the second half after entering with 14:45 to play and the Trojans leading 65-46.

He hit his first three-pointer 15 seconds after entering, another at the 8:45 mark, then dropped one in from the left corner just as the shot clock hit zero to give the Trojans their largest lead, 86-62, with 7:22 to play.

“After my third three, I thought, the basket is looking kind of big right now,” Burns said.

Walker said he doesn’t expect Burns to score 30 every night, but he said Burns is capable of putting in 10 to 15 in a hurry in a sixth-man role.

“When he scores, I’ll keep him out there,” Walker said, “and when he doesn’t, he’ll sit next to me.”

Burns nodded his head when told of Walker’s requirements for playing time, but added another caveat.

“As long as I play defense,” he said.

That might go for any of the Trojans after a night of shooting that will be difficult to duplicate when they meet the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff at 3:30 p.m. this afternoon at the Stephens Center.

UNC-WILMINGTON 78, ARKANSAS STATE 64

Devontae Cacok scored 17 points and grabbed 10 rebounds to lead UNC-Wilmington over Arkansas State University on Friday in the Battle in the Blue Ridge at US Cellular Arena in Asheville, N.C.

The Red Wolves shot 40 percent (25of-63) from the floor, including 8 of 26 three-pointers, and hit 6 of 11 free throws. They were outrebounded 40-30 and outscored in the lane 44-26 but held a 29-21 advantage in points off the bench.

Marquis Eaton scored a game-high 19 points to lead ASU and Canberk Kus finished with 10. Jaylen Fornes had 12 points for UNC-Wilmington.

SWAC MEN ARK.-PINE BLUFF 115, CALIFORNIA BAPTIST 107

Senior guard Martaveous McKnight scored a game-high 40 points on 13-of27 shooting from the floor and hitting 13 of 18 free throws Friday to lead the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff (1-4) over California Baptist as part of the Las Vegas Holiday Classic at the Jack Stephens Center in Little Rock.

McKnight, the preseason Southwestern Athletic Conference Player of the Year, has led UAPB in scoring in each of its five games and scored 40 or more points for the second time this season. He scored 41 in a loss at Colorado State on Nov. 10.

Shaun Doss scored 15 points for the Golden Lions, while Terrance Banyard added 12 points and 22 rebounds — 19 of them on the defensive end.