FORT SMITH - Nationally-ranked UAFS shot a school-record 67 percent from the field on Saturday afternoon as the Lions routed the St. Mary’s Rattlers 91-50 in Heartland Conference play at the Stubblefield Center.
The Lions (16-3, 5-3), who are ranked No. 23 in the latest NABC Division II Top 25, finished their home stand 2-0 after routing the Texas A&M International Dustdevils 95-53 on Thursday night.
UAFS, which finished the first round of conference play, is tied for second in the conference behind conference co-leaders No. 17/25 Dallas Baptist (15-3, 5-2) and Rogers State (14-5, 5-2). The Lions will begin the second half of league play against Rogers State at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday night at the Claremore (Okla.) Expo Center.
It was the second-consecutive game for the Lions to shot 60 percent or better from the field. UAFS shot 64 percent from the field in its win against Texas A&M International on Thursday.
UAFS made 35 of 52 shots from the field, including 12 of 20 shot from 3-point range. The Lions also shot 82 percent from the free-throw line (9 of 11). Three Lions scored in double-figures – senior guard DaVaunta Thomas (22), freshman forward Adam Rivera (16) and sophomore guard Kyree Elder (13).
The Lions also out-rebounded the Rattlers by 15 rebounds (39-24). Senior guard Ladarius Coleman just missed a double-double, finishing with eight points and a team-high 11 rebounds. He was one of five Lions with four or more rebounds.
UAFS held St. Mary’s (7-11, 3-4), which lost its second game in a row, to just 32-percent shooting from the field (20 of 62) – the Rattlers were only 4-of-24 shooting from 3-point range – and St. Mary’s shot only 55 percent from the free-throw line (6 of 11).
No Rattler scored in double-figures. Forward Petar Radojicic led the Rattlers, who trailed 48-31 at halftime, with nine points and five rebounds.
MEN
- 23 UAFS 91, ST. MARY’S 50
St. Mary’s 31 19 — 50
UAFS 48 43 — 91
St. Mary’s (7-11, 3-4): Radojicic 9, Green 8, Brooks 8, Williams 7, Ferguson 6, Benavides 5, McCullough 5, Hurst 2
UAFS (16-3, 5-3): Thomas 22, Rivera 16, Elder 13, Wallace 9, Coleman 8, Strong-Moore 8, Crawford 7, Hawley 4, Jolly 2, Dandridge 2
