STATE DIVISION I ROUNDUPS

SUN BELT MEN

SOUTH ALABAMA 82, ARKANSAS STATE 62

South Alabama overwhelmed Arkansas State University on Thursday at Jonesboro’s First National Bank Arena, buoyed by 23 points from Isaiah Moore and 20 points from Kevin Samuel — part of a 56.6% shooting night from the Jaguars.

A 13-5 run early in the first half put South Alabama (10-13, 4-7 Sun Belt Conference) up double figures early, and the Jaguars led by 10-plus points for most of the game. The Red Wolves pulled within nine inside the first two minutes of the second half, only for South Alabama to respond with a 10-1 burst over the next two minutes.

ASU (9-15, 1-10) got 21 points from freshman Terrance Ford Jr. and freshman reserve Izaiyah Nelson posted an 11-point, 11-rebound effort in 23 minutes, but the Red Wolves allowed 46 points in the paint and shot just 2 of 12 on three-pointers.

OHIO VALLEY MEN

SOUTHEAST MISSOURI ST. 99, UALR 98

In its highest-scoring game yet this season, the University of Arkansas-Little Rock couldn’t contain Southeast Missouri State standout Phillip Russell, as the guard scored 37 points to lead the Redhawks on Thursday night at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo.

The Trojans broke a 66-66 deadlock with 10:28 remaining, rebuilding a fourpoint advantage after their 50-41 halftime lead had vanished. But Southeast Missouri State (13-11, 8-3 Ohio Valley) countered with 10 consecutive points — eight of them coming from Russell — to pull back in front, and the hosts would never relinquish their advantage.

UALR (7-17, 3-8) pulled within two points with 1:35 remaining and then again twice in the final minute before Jordan Jefferson’s three-pointer trimmed the deficit to 99-98 with two seconds to play. But the Redhawks were able to run off the rest of the clock, depriving the Trojans of their first winning streak this season.

C.J. White led UALR with 22 points, while Isaiah Palermo added 20 and DeAntoni Gordon 17.

ASUN MEN

CENTRAL ARKANSAS 91, FLORIDA GULF COAST 87

The University of Central Arkansas picked up its third conference win Thursday night, defeating Florida Gulf Coast at Alico Arena in Fort Myers, Fla., thanks to a season-high 32 points form Eddy Kayouloud.

Kayouloud followed up the 17 points and 7 rebounds he had at halftime with 15 points and 4 rebounds to record his third double-double this season.

The Bears (8-16, 3-8 ASUN) trailed the Eagles (14-10, 4-7) 45-42 at halftime.

That lead got as large as 12 points when Florida Gulf Coast went up 61-49, but UCA responded with a 16-0 run to take a 65-61 lead.

With UCA’s lead at five points or less for the final 4:32, Kayouloud scored seven of the team’s last 13 points, including an emphatic final dunk to seal the victory.

Elias Cato had 13 points thanks to four three-pointers.

Isaiah Thompson led Florida Gulf Coast with 29 points on 9-of-18 shooting.

SUN BELT WOMEN

ARKANSAS STATE 69, COASTAL CAROLINA 65

Forcing 26 turnovers, Arkansas State pulled out a road victory Thursday night at Coastal Carolina’s HTC Center in Conway, S.C.

Izzy Higginbottom led the Red Wolves with a game-high 24 points while also adding a career-best 6 steals to go along with 4 rebounds and 3 assists.

The Chanticleers (10-12, 5-6) led 2212 after a quarter, but Higginbottom scored 13 of her points in the second, helping ASU (7-15, 2-9 Sun Belt Conference) to a 36-36 tie at halftime.

Anna Griffin was the only other ASU player in double figures, finishing with 11 points, but she and Higginbottom combined to go 11-of-12 at the free-throw line, helping the Red Wolves to 16-of-18 on free throws as a team.

OHIO VALLEY WOMEN

UALR 58, SOUTHEAST MISSOURI ST. 39

The University of Arkansas-Little Rock limited Southeast Missouri State to under 26% shooting from the field, 2 of 24 on three-pointers and a pair of four-point quarters as the Trojans rolled to a fifth consecutive victory Thursday night at the Show Me Center in Cape Girardeau, Mo.

The Redhawks led 17-14 after a quarter, but UALR (13-9, 10-1 Ohio Valley Conference) buckled down and held Southeast Missouri State (9-13, 4-7) to two points over the final eight-plus minutes of the second quarter. The Trojans entered halftime on a 15-2 run to lead 30-21 and never let the hosts get closer than eight points the rest of the way.

Faith Lee played all 40 minutes, shooting 7 of 13 from the field and logging 21 points to go with 5 assists, Angelique Francis added 16 points on 6-of-9 shooting, overcoming an off-night from Sali Kourouma — UALR’s leading scorer shot 2 of 19 but collected 19 rebounds, including 7 on the offensive glass.