Demons' Depth Fuels Them to Fifth Consecutive Victory

Demons' Depth Fuels Them to Fifth Consecutive Victory

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Northwestern State 82, Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 68
NATCHITOCHES, La. - Contributions throughout the roster were apparent Saturday as Northwestern State got 35 points off the bench, with James Hulbin breaking out of a slump as he scored 14 points helping the Demons cruise past Texas A&M-Corpus Christi 82-68 for their fifth consecutive Southland Conference victory.

It is the best conference win streak in six seasons for the Demons, 14-9 overall and tied for second in the 12-team conference with a 7-2 league record. Northwestern got 17 points and four assists from Louis Ellis, who hit 4-of-5 on 3-pointers, while Shamir Davis added 15 points with four assists, sinking 7 of 8 free throws.

Demons senior center William Mosley joined the Southland's career rebounding top 10 with his fourth of nine rebounds. Mosley has 1,036 boards for 10th in league history and is 12 away from passing Randy White of Louisiana Tech for ninth place.

While rejecting four shots, the 6-foot-7 Mosley moved up one spot to 12th on the NCAA career blocked shots list with 430, passing 6-11 Calvin Booth of Penn State, who had 428 from 1994-99. Mosley needs seven to tie for 11th and 11 to break into the top 10.

Hulbin, who had scored only 24 points combined in the last five games, had half that many as Northwestern ran to a 46-35 halftime advantage.

The Demons outshot the Islanders 49-40 percent in the game, raising Northwestern's record to 12-0 when it outshoots the opposition and also when opponents score under 70.

Northwestern will play at Lamar on Wednesday while the Islanders step out of league play on Monday to play at Savannah State.

Visit www.nsudemons.com or www.goislanders.com for more about this game.
 
 
Lamar 80, UTSA 66

BEAUMONT, Texas - Senior guard Brandon Davis scored 21 of his game-high 23 points in the second half Saturday afternoon at the Montagne Center as Lamar pulled away from visiting UTSA for an 80-66 Southland Conference victory.

Davis missed all eight of his field goal attempts in the first half, including an 0-for-6 effort from 3-point range, as the Cardinals settled for a 27-27 tie at the half. He then went 7-of-10 from the floor in the second half, making 5-of-7 from 3-point range as he played a career-high 39 minutes.

Lamar, which will host Northwestern State on Wednesday night at 7 p.m., won its third consecutive game to improve to 15-8 on the year. More importantly, Lamar is now 6-3 on the year in Southland play which is the same league record that UTSA (14-9) now has after losing for the second straight game.

Lamar hammered UTSA on the boards, outrebounding the visitors 35-25, including grabbing 11 offensive rebounds which led to a 14-2 advantage in second chance points. The Cardinals also enjoyed a 23-15 advantage in points off turnovers.

UTSA was as advertised shooting the ball, as the conference's best shooting team hit 55.6 percent of its shots in the second half and was a sparkling 10-of-20 from 3-point range. However, the Cardinals' ability to get to the free throw line may have been the difference in the game.

UTSA was a solid 8-of-10 from the foul line, but Lamar managed to make 25 trips to the charity stripe and knock down 19.

Miles had a big game for the Cardinals as he finished with 18 points, seven rebounds and a game-high six assists. Most impressive is that Miles scored his 18 points on just eight field goal attempts as he made five and added an 8-of-11 performance from the free throw line.

James, who came in averaging a team-best 16.3 points per game, scored 14 second half points to finish with 16 in the game.

Hill led the Roadrunners with 18 points, also recording all three of UTSA's blocked shots. Melvin Johnson III added 15 points, while Burrage came off the bench to finish with 13.

UTSA will play host to Southeastern Louisiana Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Visit www.lamarcardinals.com or www.goutsa.com for more about this game.
 
 
UT Arlington 69, Central Arkansas 61
CONWAY, Ark. - LaMarcus Reed scored a game-high 22 points to lead UT Arlington to a 69-61 victory over Central Arkansas Saturday.

The win extended the Mavericks (17-5, 9-0 Southland) school-record winning streak to 13 games.

Reed, who scored 20 of his 22 points in the second half, was one of three UT Arlington players in double figures as Jordan Reves had 14 points while Bo Ingram added 11. Kevin Butler pulled down a career-high 16 rebounds for the Mavericks.

Ryan Williams came off the bench to lead the Bears with 14 points while Julia Mason added 12.

UT Arlington held a decided advantage in points in the paint with a 37-16 margin. The Mavericks also shot 73 percent from the foul line and outrebounded the Bears 45-39.

The Mavericks visit Sam Houston State Wednesday at 7 p.m. on the Southland Conference Television Network. Central Arkansas is at Texas State Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Visit www.utamavs.com or www.ucasports.com for more about this game.
 
 
Sam Houston State 57, Southeastern Louisiana 55
HAMMOND, La. - Demarcus Gatlin's jumper from the right baseline with four seconds to play gave Sam Houston State a 57-55 Southland Conference road victory over Southeastern Louisiana Saturday night.

Gatlin led Sam Houston (9-14, 3-6 Southland) as the Bearkats ended a four-game losing streak, the program's longest since 2001.

Sam Houston trailed by seven points at halftime, 32-25, and was down by eight early in the second half. Konner Tucker, who scored 14 points for the night, gave the Bearkats their first lead of the second period with a three-pointer at the 9:23 mark to make the score 46-45.

Steven Werner, who scored 10 points for the Bearkats, gave the Bearkats a 55-54 lead on a follow shot with 34 seconds to play. Elgin Bailey tied the contest 55-55, hitting the front end of a two-shot foul with 20 seconds to player. Tucker grabbed the rebound after Bailey missed the second shot to set up Gatlin's game winner.

Jeremy Campbell missed a 16-foot jumper at the buzzer to give Sam Houston the win.

Southeastern Louisiana (8-13, 2-7) was led by Todd Nelson with 17 points and Roosevelt Johnson with 13 points.

Four of the Bearkats' six Southland Conference losses have been by a field goal or less with the game-winning basket for their opponents coming either in the closing seconds or overtime.

Sam Houston State returns home Wednesday to face UT Arlington at 7 p.m. on the Southland Conference Television Network. Southeastern Louisiana plays at UTSA Wednesday at 7 p.m.
 
 
Nicholls State 96, Texas State 75
THIBODAUX, La. - After taking care of business against Texas A&M-Corpus Christi on Wednesday, Nicholls State did not crumble against the full-court press of Texas State Saturday afternoon, defeating the Bobcats 96-75.

Flanked by three other players in double figures, Trevon Lewis led the Colonels (7-15, 3-7 Southland) with 23 points, followed by Dantrell Thomas' 22, the second 20-point game for him this week.

Shane Rillieux, who finished with 16 points on the night, was a perfect 4-of-4 from beyond the arc as the Colonels hit nine 3-pointers in the game.

The Colonels dominated in nearly every facet of the game, getting 44 points in the paint, 29 points off of 18 Bobcat turnovers, 15 second-chance points, 12 fast break points and 38 points from the bench.

Nicholls outrebounded the Bobcats 34-25, pulling down eight offensive boards, three coming from Jeremy Smith.

The 96 points the Colonels scored is the most this year by the team and the Colonels are 3-0 on the year when scoring 90 or more points.

The Colonels return to the court at Stephen F. Austin Wednesday at 7 p.m. Texas State plays host to Central Arkansas Wednesday at 7 p.m.

Visit www.geauxcolonels.com or www.txstatebobcats.com for more about this game.