In addition to his scoring, Thompson also tied a Southland Conference single-game record with seven steals, equaling a record set by McNeese State's Joe Dumars in 1985.

Three Nicholls players had 13 points -- Arthur Haralson, Chris Bacon and Earnest Porter. Haralson and Porter, both starters, also fouled out. Game summary

McNeese St. 83, Louisiana-Monroe 78

LAKE CHARLES, La. -- Tierre Brown scored 20 points and McNeese State outshot Louisiana-Monroe by 25-10 from the foul line in beating the Indians 83-78 in Tuesday night's opening round of the Southland Conference Tournament.

Brown, the conference's No. 2 scorer with a 19.9-point average, led five players in double figures as McNeese (21-7) extended its winning streak to 14 games and completed a three-game season sweep of Louisiana-Monroe (11-17).

McNeese, ahead by just 39-35 at halftime, held a decisive 21-8 foul-shooting advantage over Louisiana-Monroe, which committed 27 fouls for the game.

Ira Miller added 16 points for McNeese, reserve Ben Perkins had 15, Demond Mallet 13 and Chauncey Bryant had 10. Ben Gentry also had 12 rebounds and Perkins 11 for the Cowboys, who had a 50-41 rebounding edge.

Nick Coln's 19 points led Louisiana-Monroe, which also had 17 points from Brian Lubeck, 12 from Brandon Horn and 10 from Charles Sanders.

Sam Houston St. 103, Texas-Arlington, 98, 2 OT

HUNTSVILLE, Texas -- Senecca Wall scored 45 points, including a crucial 3-pointer with 4:12 left in the second overtime, Tuesday night to give Sam Houston State a 103-98 victory over Texas-Arlington in the first round of the Southland Conference Tournament.

Wall's 45 points are the most by a Bearkat since James Lister set a school record with 47 points against East Texas in 1971.

The game was tied at 73-73 at the end of regulation. Each team scored 10 points in the first overtime.

Wall's 3-pointer in the second overtime gave Sam Houston an 88-85 lead and the Bearkats (16-12) never trailed again. Texas-Arlington (13-15) could get no closer than two points the rest of the way.

Demetrice Sims added 19 points for Sam Houston and Eddy Barlow scored 13 points.

Steven Barber led Texas-Arlington with 30 points. Jbari Johnson added 18 points. Mack Callier had 14 points and 16 rebounds and Derrick Obasohan had 10 points.

Sam Houston will face top-seed McNeese State Friday night in Bossier City, La.

Texas-San Antonio 71, Southwest Texas State 69

SAN ANTONIO -- McEverett Powers hit a jumper with less than a second remaining to lift Texas-San Antonio past Southwest Texas State.

Clay Click pushed Southwest Texas' lead to 67-63 with just more than two minutes remaining and Powers went on a streak with four baskets, including the one to pull ahead just before the buzzer.

Devin Brown led the Roadrunners (14-14) with 20 points, Powers had 14 and Jon Havens added 10. Southwest Texas (13-15) was led by Click with 18, Byron Hobbs added 17 and Brady Richeson had 14.

The win sends Texas-San Antonio into Friday's semifinals against Northwestern State (16-12).