Sun Belt Conference Tournament Recaps

New Orleans, LA (SportsNetwork.com) – Ryan Harrow scored a game-high 20 points to lead Georgia State to a 72-45 rout of Arkansas State in a Sun Belt Conference Tournament semifinal matchup.

R.J. Hunter added 16 points and seven rebounds and Manny Atkins finished with 12 points and seven boards for the Panthers (25-7), who will face Louisiana in the final.

Kendrick Washington scored 12 points and pulled down 12 rebounds and Melvin Johnson III finished with 10 points for the Red Wolves (19-13).

Arkansas State led 15-13 with 10:28 left, but a 19-5 Georgia State run make it 32-20. The Panthers led 32-24 at the break.

Georgia State pushed its spread to 13, 46-33, 5 1/2 minutes into the second half and never saw its lead dip below double digits the rest of the way.

Final Score: Louisiana 73, Western Kentucky 72

New Orleans, LA (SportsNetwork.com) – Elfrid Payton scored 23 points to go with nine assists and seven rebounds as Louisiana edged Western Kentucky 73-72 in the semifinals of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament.

Bryant Mbamalu also scored 23 points for the Ragin’ Cajuns (22-11), who will face top-seeded Georgia State in the Sun Belt final on Sunday.

George Fant and T.J. Price finished with 16 points apiece and Brandon Harris scored 11 for the Hilltoppers (20-12).

Louisiana led 67-59 with just under 4 1/2 minutes left, but a 13-2 run had WKU on top 72-69 with just over two minutes remaining.

Payton buried a jumper at the 1:49 mark and made the go-ahead layup 33 seconds later. The Hilltoppers were held scoreless the rest of the way.

The Ragin’ Cajuns led 42-37 at the break.

Categorized in: NCAA Basketball