UAFS Sports Information
FORT SMITH (KFSM) - Junior guard Alex Cooper already set the UAFS single-game assist record earlier this season when he dished out 14 assists during the Lions' lopsided 118-79 nonconference win against Ecclesia College.
The Mesquite, Texas, native etched his name in the school's record book once again on Saturday during the Lions' 91-83 Heartland Conference win against the St. Edward's Hilltoppers at the Stubblefield Center.
Cooper had four assists against the Hilltoppers to become the Lions' all-time career assists leader during their NCAA Division II era. He entered the game tied with former Lions guard Jalynn Mitchell with 298 career assists and now owns the outright record with 306 assists.
He did not have an assist in the first half, but he set the mark quickly in the second half. With 17:12 left in the game, Cooper fed junior guard Seth Youngblood on a fastbreak, which Youngblood finished off with a dunk to put the Lions ahead by eight points (51-43).
The Lions' lead swelled to as many as 15 points in the second half as they posted an impressive win against a Hilltoppers team that was undefeated in conference play and had only one loss overall.
It was an all-around stellar afternoon for Cooper. He tied his career-high with 27 points – he also scored 27 points in the Lions' win against Goldey-Beacom on Nov. 25 this season – and tied his career-high with six made 3-pointers that he first set in the Lions' win against Oklahoma Christian last season on Jan. 24.
Cooper was a perfect 6-for-6 shooting from 3-point range and was nearly perfect shooting from the field and the free-throw line. He was 8-for-9 shooting from the field and 5-for-6 shooting from the free-throw line.
UAFS (9-2, 2-1) shot a sizzling 63 percent from the field (31 for 49) – it was 11-for-13 shooting from 3-point range – and shot 69 percent from the free-throw line (18 for 26). Cooper was one of three players to score in double-figures.
Sophomore guard DaVaunta Thomas had 18 points, five assists, two blocked shots and seven rebounds. Senior forward Kenny Martin had 17 points, 11 rebounds and one assist. It was Martin's second double-double of the season, and the Lions' all-time rebounder helped the Lions out-rebound the Hilltoppers by 23 rebounds (47-24).
UAFS held St. Edward's (9-2, 2-1) to just 38-percent shooting from the field (28 for 73) – the Hilltoppers were 11-for-29 shooting from 3-point range. The Hilltoppers shot only 69 percent from the free-throw line (16 for 23).
Guard Ramir Burton led the Hilltoppers, who were tied with the Lions with 43 points at halftime, with 18 points. Guard John Gramlich had 17 points, and forward Trey Lindsey had 11 points.
Forward Quinton Lilley led the Hilltoppers with five rebounds.
UAFS will return to conference play on Saturday when it hosts the University of Texas of the Permian Basin at 3 p.m. at the Stubblefield Center to begin the new year.