Northwestern St. tops Cent. Arkansas 80-64

Jones scores 36 as Northwestern State ends 8-game skid to defeat Central Arkansas 80-64

Staff
AP News

Jan 31, 2009 17:56 EST

Damon Jones scored 25 of his career-high 36 points in the second half to help Northwestern State defeat Central Arkansas 80-64 on Saturday for its first Southland Conference victory of the season.

The win also snapped the Demons' (9-12, 1-5) eight-game skid, their longest losing streak since the 1984-85 season.

Jones' previous high was 21 points. He was 12-for-19 — including 5-for-8 from 3-point range — and made all seven of his free throws. His 36 points is the fifth-highest total by a Northwestern State player in Prather Coliseum, which opened in 1964. Demons coach Mike McConathy holds the coliseum record: 45 points scored in 1976 when he played for Louisiana Tech.

The Bears (9-11, 2-5) pulled within six at 46-40 with 11:50 remaining, but could get no closer.

Marcus Pillow and Mitch Rueter scored 18 points apiece for Central Arkansas.

Source: AP News