Dennis leads UT Arlington past Arkansas St 68-59

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Edric Dennis tossed in a season-high 25 points and grabbed six rebounds and UT Arlington held off Arkansas State 68-59 on Thursday night.

Dennis sank 7 of 17 shots, including 3 of 9 from 3-point range, for the Mavericks (7-11, 3-2 Sun Belt Conference). Reserve Radshad Davis was the only other Maverick to reach double figures, scoring 10 with four boards and two steals. UT Arlington won despite shooting just 37 percent from the floor, 24 percent from beyond the arc, and coming up short on the boards 42-31.

The big difference came at the free-throw line where the Mavericks made 23 of 30, while the Red Wolves sank 9 of 14.

Arkansas State scored the first seven points of the game and led 11-3 after Tristin Walley's layup with 12:09 left, but UT Arlington outscored the Red Wolves 24-7 from there to take a 27-18 lead into intermission. The Red Wolves closed within four points twice early in the second half but could get no closer.

Ty Cockfield scored 16 points to lead the Red Wolves (8-10, 2-3). He added four rebounds and four assists. Arkansas State shot 40 percent from the floor, but just 27 percent from distance (6 of 22).