Dyondre Dominguez led Arkansas State with 20 points as the Red Wolves took down UL Monroe with a convincing 95-70 victory over the Warhawks on Saturday. Dominguez shot 7 of 11 from the field, including 4 for 6 from beyond the arc, showcasing impressive shooting accuracy.
Izaiyah Nelson also made significant contributions, scoring 18 points and grabbing 10 rebounds, finishing with 9 of 11 from the floor. Derrian Ford and Taryn Todd added 14 points each to the Red Wolves' offense. On the other side, UL Monroe's standout was Makai Willis, who scored 21 points and secured eight rebounds. Jalen Bolden contributed 16 points with six rebounds, and Coltie Young finished with 14 points.
With the win, Arkansas State improved its record to 20-9 overall and 11-5 within the Sun Belt Conference. They currently sit just behind James Madison, who leads the conference with a 12-4 record. Meanwhile, UL Monroe's season continued to struggle, dropping to 3-13 in conference play and holding only 7 wins overall.
The game was not only pivotal for the standings but also marked the performance's highlighted efforts from players who are pushing for prominence as the season winds down. Arkansas State’s next challenge is set for Wednesday against Louisiana, on the road, as they aim to maintain their momentum.
Switching to another matchup filled with anticipation, the fifth-ranked Houston Cougars managed to fend off No. 8 Iowa State 68-59, thanks largely to the stellar play of L.J. Cryer, who poured in 28 points. Cryer and teammate Milos Uzan combined for 47 points, shooting remarkably well, including 8 for 12 from three-point range. Emanuel Sharp chipped in with 11 points, contributing significantly to the win.
Iowa State had its moments, led by Milan Momcilovic, who scored all 16 of his points during the second half, helping rally the Cyclones after trailing by 16 points midway through the second half. The Cyclones mounted a formidable 18-3 run to cut the Cougars' lead to just 48-47, igniting hopes of an upset.
Despite their efforts, Houston quickly regrouped, responding with four straight points to extend their lead once again. Iowa State struggled offensively at times, not having their two leading scorers, Keshon Gilbert and Curtis Jones, available, affecting their performance. Even so, they showcased strong defense, forcing the Cougars to commit 17 turnovers, their highest of the season.
The Cougars pushed their record to 23-4 and sit at 15-1 within the Big 12, solidifying their position as one of the favorites for the conference title with just four games remaining. The next test for Houston will come against No. 9 Texas Tech on Monday.
For both Arkansas State and Houston, these recent victories serve as pivotal building blocks as they head toward the concluding stretch of their seasons, each chasing their respective conference ambitions.