LAFAYETTE, La. (AP) Mylik Wilson scored 17 points and pulled down 12 rebounds to lead five Louisiana-Lafayette players in double figures and the Ragin' Cajuns topped Arkansas State 73-66 in the Sun Belt Conference tournament's first round on Saturday.

Wilson's double-double was the freshman' second. Jalen Johnson added 16 points for the eighth-seeded Ragin' Cajuns (14-18). Cedric Russell chipped in 12, Trajan Wesley scored 11 and Dou Gueye had 10. Johnson also had 10 rebounds.

Arkansas State came as close as 67-66 when Marquis Eaton scored with less than a minute to go, but Russell answered with a jumper in the paint for the Ragin' Cajuns, then made a free throw and - after a technical foul was called on the Arkansas State bench - made three more FTs, pushing the lead to seven.