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67 75 |
UALR (9-7, 3-2) snapped a three-game losing streak with a
75-67 victory over Western Kentucky, which entered the game having beaten UALR
eight consecutive times.
UALR won by outscoring Western Kentucky 19-10 at the free throw line and by committing 10 fewer turnovers.
Leroy Isler had 13 points and 4 steals to lead UALR. But it
was his work on the defensive end that was most notable. He held Western
Kentucky’s T.J. Price to 8 points in 21 minutes. And Price fouled out with 7:52
remaining in the game.
Michael Javes played one of the best games of his career
with 11 points and 3 rebounds. It would have been even better if not for his 1
of 6 free-throw shooting.
Ben Dillard rebounded from a couple of sluggish games with
10 points, making 4 of 7 field-goal attempts. But Dillard was injured late in
the game after a foul that wasn’t called sent him to the court. He did not
return.
Also injured and not returning was point guard John Gillon,
who appeared to injure his knee making a steal late in the first half. Gillon
returned to the bench in the second half with his knee heavily iced.
Josh Hagins returned to the starting lineup at point guard
on Thursday and ended up playing 28 minutes, including most of the second half.
He finished with 5 assists and no turnovers.
UALR built a 14-point first-half lead but saw it go for
naught when Western Kentucky football player Marcus Vasquez banked in a
three-pointer as he was fouled by Ben Dillard with 3 seconds left in the first
half. His free throw sent the game to halftime tied 36-36.
The second half was back-and-forth for the first seven
minutes before a five-point run by Dillard turned a 45-42 deficit into a 47-45
lead. Two free throws and a jump shot by Kemy Osse, thrust into playing point
guard with Gillon on the bench, increased the lead to 51-45.
Western Kentucky got as close as 55-52 after Price
re-entered the game with four fouls. But a strong move for a layup by Javes
fouled Price out and gave UALR a 57-52 lead.
Western Kentucky’s press wasn’t really effective as the
Trojans stretched the lead out. A layup by Taggart Lockhart with 2:26 to play
made it 69-57. UALR then made enough free throws to keep the game out of reach.
