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UALR (15-10, 9-5) entered the game tied with Arkansas State atop the
West Division standings. But Arkansas State’s loss allowed UALR to take a
one-game lead. ASU plays Saturday at Western Kentucky while UALR has Saturday
off.
UALR held a 13-point halftime lead but saw that cut to 2 points in the
second half. UALR never gave up the lead though and pushed it back to double
digits on their way to the victory.
“That was a good one for us,” UALR Coach Steve Shields said. “ULM has
been playing a lot better than their record indicates. They got beat by FIU by
3, by FAU by 5. I thought we defended with a passion and did an excellent job
on the glass.”
Josh Hagins led UALR with 14 points. But the key was probably Gus
Leeper, who had a career high 12 points and 6 rebounds.
“I thought he did a good job of posting hard,” Shields said of Leeper. “We
had a size advantage in there and our guards did a good job of looking in
there.”
Will Neighbour added 11 points and 6 rebounds, including a crucial 3
late, and Michadel Javes had 8 points and 6 rebounds. UALR outrebounded ULM
34-25.
ULM got to within 42-40 in the second half. UALR responded to take
control of the game.
Kemy Osse and John Gillon each hit two free throws. Then Leeper tipped
in a Gillon miss for a 48-40 lead. Osse then hit a three-pointer to stretch the
lead to 11.
It still wasn’t over. Back to back three-pointers by Louisiana-Monroe’s
Trey Lindsey cut the lead to 61-58 with 1:55 left.
UALR didn’t hesitate at the other end. Neighbour drilled a
three-pointer with 1:40 left to push the lead back to 64-58. And after a defensive
stop, UALR put the game away with a James White dunk.
