UALR gets berth; ASU staying home

The UALR men’s basketball team lost its regular-season finale Thursday night, but the Trojans will still get another game.

Louisiana-Lafayette used a balance scoring attack to beat UALR 75-69 at the Cajundome in Lafayette, La., handing UALR a second consecutive loss to end the regular season. But since Arkansas State lost to South Alabama at the Convocation Center in Jonesboro, UALR (13-17, 8-12) clinched a spot in the Sun Belt Conference Tournament that begins Thursday in New Orleans.

UALR’s seed in the tournament won’t be decided until after today’s games, but the Trojans will open the tournament at 5 p.m. or 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Lakefront Arena in New Orleans.

“We came here to win a game,” UALR Coach Steve Shields said. “That locker room is hurting in there. Going into the tournament you want to be playing your best basketball and you want to have some fight to you.”

Roger Woods had 17 points, J.T. Thomas had 14 and Josh Hagins had 12 points off the bench, including a three-pointer, including eight in the final two minutes while trying to get UALR back in the game. His three-pointer with 1:26 left got UALR within 67-64, but UALR committed a turnover on its next possession and Louisiana-Lafayette’s Jay Wright made two free throws.

Woods’ basket with 4:36 left got UALR to within 58-57, but the Ragin’ Cajuns scored the next five points.

The Trojans shot 44.4 percent from the field, made 8 of 24 three-pointers and 9 of 9 free throws. The Ragin’ Cajuns (18-12, 12-7) made 22 of 23 free throws and held a 39-21 rebounding edge.

Devonta Walker’s 15 pointers led Louisiana-Lafayette, which will enter as the No. 4 seed in the Sun Belt Tournament. Wright had 14 points and Shawn Long had 13 points.

Louisiana-Lafayette was 17 of 17 from the free-throw line in the second half.