NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Josh Hagins and James White combined for 29 points and 14 rebounds as No. 5 seed Arkansas-Little Rock took control in the second half to knock off eighth-seeded Troy 74-61 in the first round of the Sun Belt Conference tournament Thursday.
UALR will play No. 4 seed Arkansas State in the quarterfinal round on Friday.
The score was tied at 33 after the first half. With the score still knotted up at 44 in the second half, Hagins hit a 3-pointer to start a 16-0 run that put UALR up 60-44 with 4:55 remaining. UALR’s defense held Troy scoreless for over 8 minutes.
Hagins finished with 15 points and White had 14 with six boards. DeVonte Smith and Ben Dillard added 11 points apiece for UALR (15-16).
Tevin Calhoun led Troy (11-20) with 15 points, Antonie Myers added 12 and Hunter Williams had 11.
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