LUBBOCK, Texas — The Texas Tech Red Raiders went inside in the second half Sunday afternoon and that strategy paid off with a 79-57 victory over the University of Central Arkansas Bears in front of a crowd of 4,894 at United Spirit Arena.
The Red Raiders (7-3), UCA’s second straight Big 12 opponent this season, got a season-high 13 points from 7-foot center Dejan Kravic in just nine minutes of action and scored 24 points in the paint after halftime. For the game, Tech outscored UCA 40-18 inside and also won the rebound battle 36-25, including 16 on the offensive end.
Junior guard Oliver Wells topped the Bears with 14 points, also leading the way from the perimeter, hitting 4 of 6 three-point shots. For the game, the top three-point shooting team in the Southland Conference connected on 9 of 19 (47.4 percent). DeShone McClure and freshman Jalen Jackson finished with 11 points each, while Aubrey Ball added 9, going 3 for 5 from beyond the arc.
UCA continues its road trip with a 11:30 a.m. game against North Texas on Tuesday in Denton.
RUSSELLVILLE — University of Arkansas at Monticello senior forward Brandon Wilson has been named the Great American Conference Men’s Basketball Player of the Week after leading the Weevils in an 88-48 win over Central Baptist this past Saturday.
Wilson tallied a career-high 26 points after connecting on 9-of-10 field goal attempts and 8-of-13 free throws. He added seven rebounds, four blocked shots and three steals to his totals as UAM cruised to a 40-point win over the Mustangs to open a five-game home stand.
Overall this season, the Rayville, La. native ranks third in the GAC with an average of 17 points per game. He ranks seventh in the league with an average of seven rebounds per contest, fourth in field goal percentage at .635 and second in blocked shots at 1.9 per outing.
Wilson and the 6-2 Weevils are back in action tonight at home against Philander Smith.
WINTER PARK, Fla. – Anissa Pounds turned in a 20-point effort, while Jacinda Myers-Sanders added 19 points and 10 rebounds and Caroline Eubanks added 10 points with 11 rebounds as the Arkansas Tech Golden Suns (6-1) held off a late rally by the Bluefield State Lady Blues (2-10) on the opening day of the Tars Holiday Classic on Monday at Warden Arena.
Arkansas Tech will return to action Tuesday, facing No. 18 Rollins.
LITTLE ROCK – The UALR women’s basketball team came out on fire against one of the country’s best teams, but they could not hold onto a six-point halftime lead on Sunday afternoon at the Jack Stephens Center.
Kiera Clark had 17 points – including 11 in the first half – and a team-high eight rebounds as the Trojans fell 58-51 to No. 13 LSU in a tightly contested game. Taylor Gault also reached double figures, scoring 12 points, and Taylor Ford had 13 points and a team-leading eight assists.
Clark had a tremendous day overall, and her 17 points were two shy of her season best. Clark was 5 of 5 from the field in the first half and ended the afternoon making seven of her 10 shots. Her eight rebounds all came on the defensive glass. Gault, starting for the first time in a month, also had four assists and a steal. Sophomore Shanity James had three steals and six rebounds, while senior Hannah Fohne scored three points and added six rebounds off the bench.
The Trojans (4-4) travel to Ruston, La., on Friday to take on Louisiana Tech.
SEARCY — The Harding football team, champions of the 2013 Live United Texarkana Bowl, placed four players on the Don Hansen All-Super Region 3 Team. Junior fullback Romo Westbrook, junior offensive guard Mike Thompson, and senior safety Ashtun Williams were named to the 2nd Team, and senior defensive end Daniel Riley was placed on the 3rd Team.
Westbrook, a native of Marion, Ark., led the Great American Conference with 1,123 rushing yards, the fourth-highest total ever by a Harding player. He averaged 6.6 yards per rush and tied for the team lead with 12 rushing touchdowns.
Thompson, who hails from Machesney Park, Ill., started all 11 games at guard and spearheaded an offensive line that produced school records for yards (430.1) and points (43.5) per game.
A native of Rialto, Calif., Williams was second on the team with 57 tackles. He added two interceptions, seven pass breakups, and two forced fumbles.
Riley, from Compton, Calif., led Harding and ranked second in the GAC with 10.0 sacks. He made 38 tackles, including a team-best 13.5 tackles for loss.