Box Score GAME STATISTICS

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Northwestern State could not quite overcome poor shooting aim Sunday as 2011 NCAA Tournament participant Arkansas-Little Rock held off the visiting Demons 72-66 in an early-season non-conference basketball matchup that left both teams at 1-1.
 
Gary Roberson had a game-high 14 points for the Demons, who got 11 by Shamir Davis and 10 from Louis Ellis.  D'Andre Williams scored 13 and Chuck Guy added 10 for the Trojans, who visit NSU on Nov. 29.
 
NSU was within three twice in the last two minutes, 68-65 with 1:20 to go on a Davis basket and 69-66 at the 0:26 mark on a Roberson free throw, but didn't have the ball within one basket of tying the game down the stretch. UALR hit 3-of-4 free throws in the last 26 seconds, sandwiched around an NSU turnover, to hold on.
 
The Demons were outshot 49 percent to 35.7 percent from the floor, and sank only 58 percent of their free throws.
 
“We gave up some easy baskets, too many transition baskets, after halftime,” said 13^th-year Northwestern coach Mike McConathy. “Backside rebounds hurt us, obviously we needed to shoot better, and having William Mosley miss basically the entire first half with foul trouble hurt our cause.”
 
Mosley, last year's NCAA shot blocks champion, had three rejections Sunday. He scored just three points and had four rebounds after posting 15 points and 14 rebounds in NSU's opening 87-61 win over LeTourneau.
 
“We didn't play especially well but we did compete hard. We did a much better job of taking care of the basketball (only 11 turnovers, after 20 Friday night),” said McConathy. “We should feel good about where we're headed. By no means should we be satisfied, but we have a chance to be OK. UALR has a very nice club and played well today.”
 
The game was tightly contested throughout with five lead changes, four ties and a single-digit margin nearly the entire day. UALR surged up 68-58 with 2:31 left, but NSU responded with seven straight points over the next 71 seconds on a 3-pointer by Roberson and baskets from Davis and James Hulbin.
 
The Demons continue a stretch of five games in 10 days to tip off the season when they visit 2011 NCAA Tournament entry Alabama State on Thursday, then go to Marshall next Saturday and Cincinnati on Monday, Nov. 21. Their next homecourt appearance is Friday, Nov. 25 against Jacksonville State.