UTA Loses In Sun Belt Semis

NEW ORLEANS – UT Arlington’s stay in the Sun Belt Championship ended with Saturday afternoon’s 82-71 semifinals loss to ULM at Lakefront Arena.

The Mavericks (23-10) now await their postseason fate as tournament bids are handed out Sunday. UTA last played in a postseason tournament in 2013 with an invitation to the CIT.

The Mavs have played their way into tourney consideration by winning eight of their last 11 games to win the second-most games in program history. UTA also made its deepest run in the Sun Belt Championship since joining the league three years ago.

UTA was playing for its first conference final berth since reaching the WAC championship game in 2013. The Maverick were looking good early, racing out to a 12-0 advantage less than four minutes into the game and forcing an early timeout out of ULM. Kaelon Wilson and Jalen Jones knocked down 3-pointers during the spurt.

The Warhawks (20-12) would make their way back and took their first lead at 19-18. ULM would go up as many as nine and went into the locker room leading 39-30. The Mavs remained at an arm’s distance in the second half, never getting the lead below nine.

Jalen Jones led the Mavs with 19 points and 10 rebounds. Erick Neal had 17 points and four assists. Kennedy Eubanks had 10 points off the bench.

After opening the game hot, the Mavs were shooting only 37.1 percent (13-15) at the break. UTA made only 3-13 (23.1 percent) on its 3-point tries. Jones had a team-high nine points at the half.

Five Warhawks scored in double figures, led by 21 points from DeMondre Harvey. ULM shot 50 percent (27-54) for the game.