STATE DIVISION I ROUNDUPS

SOUTHLAND MEN NEW ORLEANS 84, CENTRAL ARKANSAS 61

NEW ORLEANS — Central Arkansas’ top scorer was held to one of his worst games and his teammates couldn’t pick up the slack in a second consecutive loss.

Jordan Howard, who entered as the Southland’s second leading scorer at 20.2 points per game, tied his career low (5 points) and the Bears (8-20, 7-8) were held to their lowest scoring output in a Southland Conference game this year.

UCA shot 35.6 percent and was held to 14 points below its average this season by New Orleans (16-9, 11-3), which maintained its lead in the Southland standings.

Derreck Brooks had 14 points to lead UCA, while Thatch Unruh had 12. But the Bears didn’t get much from Howard, who also was held to 5 points in a loss to Western Michigan on Nov. 26. He was 1 for 9 from the floor, with his only basket coming with 5:07 left in the game to make it 70-49.

Erik Thomas led New Orleans in scoring for the 19th time this season with 23 points, while Christavious Gill and Nate Frye each had 12 points. The Privateers shot 45 percent (27 of 60) for the game and made 14 of 28 three-pointers, the fourth game in a row that the Bears have allowed 11 or more three-pointers.

SWAC MEN TEXAS SOUTHERN 78, ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF 40

HOUSTON — Arkansas-Pine Bluff’s Jaquan Lynch scored the game’s first four points, but the 4-0 lead wouldn’t last for the Golden Lions, who fell behind 39-19 at halftime on the way to the 38-point loss at H&PE Arena.

Texas Southern (15-11, 11-2 Southwestern Athletic) forced 25 UAPB (7-20, 6-8) turnovers, converting those into 28 points. The Tigers also outscored the Golden Lions 40-10 in points in the lane, 20-6 in second-chance points and 31-12 in bench points.

Texas Southern’s Demontrae Jefferson led all scorers with 16 points. Zach Lofton added 13 and Jalan McCloud 11 for the Tigers.

Deshon Bayless led the Golden Lions with 12 points and had a team-high five rebounds.

SOUTHLAND WOMEN CENTRAL ARKANSAS 83, HOUSTON BAPTIST 39

The Central Arkansas women’s basketball team has a favorable path to at least a tie for the Southland Conference regular-season title.

The Sugar Bears easily jumped one hurdle Saturday at the Farris Center in Conway, when they used 20 consecutive points in the first half on their way to a victory over Houston Baptist, their 12th victory in a row.

UCA (21-4, 13-2) leads the Southland by a half-game over Abilene Christian (18-8, 12-2), which beat Northwestern State on Saturday.

Saturday was one of three of UCA’s final four games against teams with losing league records. Only Stephen F. Austin, which visits Conway on Saturday, has a winning league record.

UCA didn’t waste time messing around with the Huskies (5-19, 3-11). In a 6-6 game just three minutes into the game, Kierra Jordan scored inside to spark a 20-0 run for UCA that lasted until almost three minutes into the second quarter.

Maggie Proffitt, who had a gamehigh 21 points, hit a three-pointer and capped the run with a pair of free throws to put the Sugar Bears up 26-6. Houston Baptist missed 14 consecutive shots and committed seven turnovers.

UCA scored 31 points off Houston Baptist’s 21 turnovers and held it to 25.5 percent shooting (13 of 51). The Sugar Bears then used a 14-1 run in the third quarter to widen their lead to 55-26 with 2:04 left. They led by as much as 72-35 with 4:50 left.

Jordan finished with 15 points and 11 rebounds for the Sugar Bears, who also got 11 points from Taylor Baudoin.

UCA shot 48.3 percent from the floor and made 20 of 27 free throws.

SWAC WOMEN ARKANSAS-PINE BLUFF 71, TEXAS SOUTHERN 60

HOUSTON — Arkansas-Pine Bluff (12-13, 9-5 Southwestern Athletic) overcame a 50-46 deficit at the end of the third quarter to defeat host Texas Southern (15-9, 9-4) at H&PE Arena.

The Golden Lions led 33-26 at halftime but were outscored by the Tigers 24-13 in the third quarter. UAPB then went on a 24-4 run to begin the final quarter to put Texas Southern away.

Ohanta Faith led UAPB with 18 points and a game-high 13 rebounds, all defensive. Destiny Brewton added 14 points for the Golden Lions which outscored Texas Southern 29-5 in bench points led by a combined 24 from Malaik Muhammad, Niya Head and Erin Booth.

Texas Southern’s Joyce Kennerson led all players with 23 points. Teammate Chynna Ewing chipped in 11 points and had a team-high eigh rebounds.