Hooper hits game-winning 3-pointer to lift Louisiana-Monroe over Louisiana-Lafayette 76-75

Louisiana-Monroe sinks Louisiana-Lafayette 76-75

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — Tony Hooper scored 30 points, including the game-winning 3-pointer, to boost Louisiana-Monroe to a 76-75 win over Louisiana-Lafayette in the first round of the Sun Belt Conference tournament on Saturday night.

The win advances the 10th-seeded Warhawks (11-18), who will play North Texas, the No. 2 seed, on Sunday.

The game-winning shot, Hooper’s seventh 3-pointer of the night, came with just one second left and only moments after Lamar Roberson hit a jumper to give the Ragin’ Cajuns (13-16) the two-point lead at 75-73.

Tommie Sykes finished with 16 points for the Warhawks and Rudy Turner added nine points and 10 rebounds.

Travis Bureau led the Ragin’ Cajuns with 22 points, while Tyren Johnson added 17 and Roberson and Randell Daigle each pitched in with 10.