The University of Arkansas at Little Rock men's basketball team has yet to win on the road, losing 82-64 to Troy on Saturday night at Trojan Arena in Troy, Ala.
UALR (5-21, 2-11 Sun Belt Conference) is now 0-13 on the road, and the Trojans have lost eight consecutive games overall.
"We're trying to get the next one," said UALR associate head coach Kwanza Johnson, who spoke during the team's postgame radio show. "Trying to continue to compete, continue to get better. But we've got to be more consistent."
UALR finished the game 3 of 20 (15 percent) from three-point distance, which was the team's lowest percentage since its 74-66 loss to Oral Roberts on Dec. 2, when the Trojans shot 4 of 30 (13.3 percent).
UALR was 2-of-11 shooting during the final eight minutes of play, and the Trojans were already trailing 74-56 with 8:18 left in the game.
Freshman guard Jaizec Lottie scored six points to give UALR a brief 8-4 lead in the game's opening four minutes. Then, sophomore guard Ryan Pippins and freshman guard Cameron Corcoran both made a three-pointer to extend the lead to 16-10 with 11:43 left in the first half.
Troy (12-13, 6-6) followed with an 18-4 run to take a 28-20 lead with 7:26 left in the half.
Troy freshman forward Javan Johnson made two three-pointers during the run, and junior forward Jordon Varnado scored five points, including a tip-in to give Troy a 44-32 halftime lead
Troy was 5 of 14 (35.7 percent) from three-point distance during the first half, but the team closed the half by making seven shots in a row, including two three-pointers from Varnado.
UALR missed five consecutive shots to finish the first half, and the team was 2 of 12 (17 percent) from three-point range.
Varnado had a game-high 23 points and 13 rebounds. Lottie led UALR with 17 points.
UALR next plays at Arkansas State on Feb. 17 at 7 p.m.
South Alabama 87, Arkansas State 67
Hours after Arkansas State University men's basketball Coach Mike Balado suspended his team's leading scorer, the Red Wolves lost its second consecutive game to South Alabama on Saturday afternoon at the Mitchell Center in Mobile, Ala.
Balado said in a statement that ASU (9-17, 4-9 Sun Belt Conference) is establishing "a culture that we will use to build a successful program," and that senior guard Deven Simms "was unable to adhere to those standards."
Junior guard Grantham Gillard (9.5 points per game) replaced Simms (17.1) in the starting lineup, and Gillard finished with 10 points, 4 rebounds and 1 assist.
The Red Wolves were within 16-12 of South Alabama (13-12, 6-6) with 10:18 left in the first half.
The Jaguars established a 39-22 halftime lead after closing the half with an 8-0 run.
Jaguars junior guard Rodrick Sikes had 21 points by halftime. His 32 total points were just shy of the season-high 38 he scored in South Alabama's 83-74 loss at Louisiana-Monroe.
ASU junior forward Tristin Walley's free throw with 18:05 left in the second half brought the Red Wolves within 39-24, but they wouldn't get any closer.
South Alabama led by as much as 31, when Sikes made a three-pointer to make the score 67-36 with 10:13 left in the game.
ASU next hosts UALR on Feb. 17 at 7 p.m.
Southern 70, UAPB 62
The University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff lost its second consecutive game, falling to Southern on Saturday night at the F.G. Clark Activity Center in Baton Rouge.
The Golden Lions (9-17, 9-3 Southwestern Athletic Conference) led Southern (11-14, 7-5) at halftime, 31-27, but suffered its first back-to-back losses since the nonconference portion of the season.
UAPB began the season 0-13 in nonconference, but it beat Southern 78-76 in overtime the first time they played Jan. 13.
Golden Lions junior guard Martaveous McKnight had a game-high 23 points with 5 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals. Senior forward Travon Harper added 19 points.
Southern was 26-of-64 (40.6 percent) shooting, and junior guard Eddie Reese had 19 points, 3 rebounds and 6 assists.
UAPB next plays at Alcorn State on Monday at 7:30 p.m.
Sports on 02/11/2018