UL-Lafayette beats UTA 91-85 in Sun Belt tourney

Mar 15, 2014, 01:32 am

NEW ORLEANS -- Shawn Long had 19 points, 17 rebounds and five blocks Friday night, and third-seeded Louisiana-Lafayette advanced past No. 6 seed Texas-Arlington 91-85 into the Sun Belt semifinals.

The Ragin' Cajuns (21-11) will face Western Kentucky (20-11), which advanced to the semifinals with a double-bye as the No. 2 seed.

In three games against the Mavericks this season, Long averaged 24 points, 11.3 rebounds and four blocks. Louisiana complemented Long's interior dominance with a 12-for-21 shooting performance from 3-point range.

Xavian Rimmer was 5 of 6 from the arc and finished with 24 points. Bryant Mbamalu added 20 points and eight rebounds for the Cajuns.

UT-Arlington (15-17) used a 7-0 run to close within 70-65, but Louisiana answered with a 12-4 run and held on from there.

Reger Dowell scored 25 and Brandon Edwards had 22 points, 11 rebounds and four blocks. UTA was 11 of 22 from 3-point range.