ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) Steven Thomas scored 30 points as Texas-Arlington held off McNeese St. 83-78 Saturday.
Texas-Arlington (10-8, 5-3 Southland) led 42-21 at halftime, but McNeese State (10-8, 5-3) tied the score at 65 with 5:01 left.
The Mavericks pulled away with an 11-2 spurt over the next three minutes. Larry Posey capped the run with a layup that gave Texas-Arlington a 78-67 lead.
Kinley Sellers scored 17 points and Aldryan Wardell added 14 for the Cowboys, who have lost five straight.
Thomas, who is the Southland Conference's leading scorer, was 9-of-11 from the field and 12-of-14 from the foul line.
Jarrett Howell had 18 points and Rodrick Epps added 15 for the Mavericks.
