Arkansas State holds on to upset UL Monroe 83-79

Published

MONROE, La. (AP) Ty Cockfield made two free throws in the final seconds as Arkansas State held on to upset Louisiana-Monroe 83-79 in the Sun Belt Conference regular season finale on Saturday afternoon.

Rashad Lindsey had a layup and a jumper to give Arkansas State a 79-74 lead with under a minute remaining. ULM's Travis Munnings drove for a layup to cut the margin. Tristin Walley answered with two free throws to push the lead back to five before Michael Ertel drained a 3-pointer with :05 remaining to cut the lead to 81-79. The Warhawks fouled Cockfield and the 5-11 junior calmly dropped in both free throws for the win.

Walley drained 4 of 7 from distance for 23 points to go with nine rebounds for Arkansas State (11-20, 6-12). Rashad Lindsey added 17 points and Cockfield had 16 with five assists.

The Red Wolves jumped out to a 9-0 lead and took a 50-32 advantage into intermission. Marquis Easton nailed a 3 for a 61-48 lead before the Warhawks rallied with Jordan Harris ripping a 3-pointer to start a 16-0 run and give ULM its first lead of the game, 64-63 with 8:13 remaining. Walley made two free throws to give Arkansas State the lead for good, 75-74 with 2:21 remaining.

Sam McDaniel had 24 points for the Warhawks (15-14, 9-9) who had been vying for the No. 4 seed and a first-round bye in the conference tourney before falling to the Red Wolves.