3-point-happy Trojans turn sad

Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/BENJAMIN KRAIN --12/7/2014--
UALR's Roger Woods defends against Tulsa's Rashad Ray during UALR's loss in Little Rock Sunday afternoon.
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette/BENJAMIN KRAIN --12/7/2014-- UALR's Roger Woods defends against Tulsa's Rashad Ray during UALR's loss in Little Rock Sunday afternoon.

UALR did what it could to crawl out of an early hole on Sunday afternoon.

But its comeback was stunted by a deficiency that has showed up again and again during the season's first month -- an inability to guard the three-point line.

UALR made 11 three-pointers on Sunday, but Tulsa also made 11 while holding off several rallies in a 78-73 victory in front of an announced crowd of 794 at the Jack Stephens Center in Little Rock.

"I think our guys recognize who the shooter is and who is not," Coach Steve Shields said. "It's having more urgency is an issue at times."

It cost UALR (4-3) a shot at victory for the second consecutive game. Three days after Missouri State made 10 three-pointers in beating UALR, James Woodard made 5 of 8 threes, Stevie Repichowksi made three in the first half and three other Tulsa players made one each as it finished 11 of 18.

UALR opponents have made 62 three-pointers, shooting 40.5 percent through seven games, the worst among Sun Belt Conference teams and among worst of 345 Division I teams.

Guard Josh Hagins said the Trojans were so focused on closing the driving lanes "that we looked past the threes. ... I think if we do a good job of contesting them, instead of with our hands down, it'll be better.'

The lack of three-point defense made it almost impossible for UALR to close an early deficit.

The Trojans missed their first 11 shots from the floor and were 1 of 14 with 10:28 left and trailed 18-6. The issues were rooted mostly in trying to get the ball inside against Tulsa's 6-7 Rashad Smith and 6-9 post players D'Andre Wright and Brandon Swannegan.

Swannegan, who played 27 minutes because Wright was in foul trouble, blocked three shots, while helping hold the Trojans to 12 points in the lane. UALR was 13 of 44 (29.5 percent) on its two-point shots.

"We didn't have the energy that we needed," Shields said. "Their length bothered us at times, but I think we've got to have a little better ball movement and more energy and more passion and urgency."

Hagins finished with a season-high 20 points, while J.T. Thomas had 19 points and James White had 12 points and 11 rebounds. Most of it came in the second half as UALR shot 45.9 percent and made 9 of 14 three-pointers to try to claw its way back from a 33-25 halftime deficit.

Mareik Isom, who started for the first time this season, hit a three-pointer at the top of the key to start the second half, but then Woodard, who had 20 points and 10 rebounds, answered with a three for Tulsa.

Hagins made a three-pointer from the corner a minute later, only to have Woodard answer on Tulsa's next possession to make it 41-31. Thomas later made two three-pointers, but Rashad Smith and Woodard also made threes. UALR was 4 of 5 from three-point range seven minutes into the second half, but it still trailed, 49-41.

"When you dig a hole like that, it always takes a lot of energy to get out of it," Hagins said. "I think we spent a lot of energy to get back in the game as opposed to just playing."

UALR pulled within 50-48 midway through the second half, but with a chance to tie the game Isom missed a shot in the lane and Hagins missed on a floater in the lane. Tulsa scored five consecutive points to go up 55-48 and UALR never seriously threatened again.

"We didn't want them to drive the ball," Tulsa Coach Frank Haith said of his team's defensive focus. "We did a good job of keeping them out of the paint. Really, it was about protecting the paint the whole game."

Sports on 12/08/2014

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