DENVER - The University of Denver announced that it will be joining the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) in 2012-13, but until then the Pioneers are focused on the teams in their current home, the Sun Belt Conference.

Sun Belt Conference Standings

 

Here's a look at what the teams around the Belt did last week:

Player of the Week: Josh White, a Preseason First-Team All-Sun Belt selection, led North Texas to an overtime victory over the Big 12's Texas Tech with a 32 point explosion. White was 11-of-18 from the floor (61.1 percent), including the slashing runner with three seconds left in regulation that sent the game into overtime. His exploits, which included a trio of 3-pointers and four steals, made the Mean Green the first "mid-major" to upset a Big 12 team in 2010-11. The senior also reached double figures at Allen Fieldhouse on Friday against Kansas. White was also 9-of-10 from the free throw stripe.

Arkansas-Little Rock (3-1): UALR picked up a pair of wins at home last week to improve to 3-1 on the season. The Trojans followed up a commanding 108-58 victory over St. Gregory's (Nov. 17) with a 63-54 win against Illinois State on Nov. 21. The two victories improved UALR's record to 37-2 in November home games since joining the Division I ranks, including a 16-1 mark in November home games played at the Jack Stephens Center. Against St. Gregory's, the Trojans established new Jack Stephens Center records for most points scored (108), largest margin of victory (50), and the most field goals made (45) and attempted (76). UALR also established a new school record by having eight players score in double figures in the win over the Cavaliers.

Arkansas State (0-4): The Redwolves are looking for their first win of the season tonight against Pepperdine in Springfield, Mo., after a 93-60 loss Belmont in Knoxville, Tenn., on Nov. 17, and a 77-70 defeat to Pacific in Springfield, Mo., on Nov. 22.

Florida Atlantic (3-2): The Owls split a pair of home games last week, beating Warner Southern 88-58 on Nov. 17 and falling 82-72 to American on Nov. 20. Greg Gantt led the Owls with 20 points against Warner and 18 against American.

Florida International (3-1): The Golden Panthers finished the week 1-1, falling 89-66 to Florida State on Nov. 18 before defeating Utah Valley 65-62 on Nov. 20. The Panthers sit at 3-1 to start the season - their best start since 2008-2009. The team is No. 44 in the nation (tied) in steals-per-game, averaging 9.8. The Panthers are forcing 12.0 turnovers-per-contest, resulting in 20.8

points-per-game.

Louisiana-Lafayette (1-3): The Ragin' Cajuns fell 63-58 at Creighton on Nov. 17 and lost 60-55 to Cleveland State at home on Nov. 19. ULL plays its next three games on the road and seven of its next nine away from home. After the Dec. 19 home contest against Lamar, the Cajuns will not return to the Cajundome until the new year. Four players are averaging at least 12.0 points per game (David Perez - 13.3, Randell Daigle -12.8, Josh Brown - 12.5, Travis Bureau - 12.3) for the Cajuns.

Louisiana-Monroe (1-2): The Warhawks fell 69-40 at Iowa on Nov. 16. Fred Brown scored 21 points in ULM's 70-59 home opening victory over Southeast Oklahoma State on Nov. 20. Brown has scored 20-plus points in two-of-three games this season after netting 25 at Texas Tech (Nov. 12). As a team, the Warhawks had just 13 20-plus point performances all of last season. With the win over SE Oklahoma State, Keith Richard became the fourth consecutive ULM head coach to win his home debut. ULM has used a different starting lineup in all three games this season. Following its home game on Tuesday, ULM will embark on a season-long five-game road trip.

Middle Tennessee (2-3): The Blue Raiders ended the week 1-3 but fought hard in all four games. A furious comeback rally in which Middle Tennessee outscored Alabama-Birmingham 14-9 in the final 2.5 minutes fell short as the Blue Raiders fell 76-71. Then Middle Tennessee hit the road to compete in the Global Sports Hoops Showcase at Auburn, where the team played three games in three days. The Blue Raiders opened the tournament with a 97-90 loss to Campbell before rebounding from their two tough losses with a 68-55 win over Samford. The Blue Raiders battled Auburn up until the final minutes after letting a first half lead slip away in a 68-66 loss to wrap-up play at the Global Sports Hoops Showcase.

North Texas (2-1): North Texas battled a pair of Big 12 opponents last week, picking up a 92-83 overtime win over Texas Tech on Nov. 16 and falling 93-60 at No. 6 Kansas. Josh White was 11-of-18 from the floor (61.1 percent), including the slashing runner with three seconds left in regulation that sent the game into overtime. His exploits, which included a trio of three-pointers and four steals, made the Mean Green the first "mid-major" to upset a Big 12 team in 2010-11. The crowd for the Texas Tech game numbered 7,105, which is the fifth largest crowd all-time at the Super Pit and the largest since Dec. 16, 1980.

South Alabama (2-1): South Alabama split a pair of games last week, losing 93-58 at Southern Miss on Nov. 17 and defeating Central Michigan 82-76 in overtime at home on Nov. 20. Tim Williams enjoyed a career night against Central Michigan, totaling a personal-best 33 points, including 20 in the first half alone, and six rebounds. Williams hit 11 of his 13 field goal attempts and all three from behind the three-point arc. His point total was the highest for a USA player since Dec. 15, 2007, and the first 30-point game for a USA player since

Jan. 8, 2009.

Troy (1-3): Troy dropped two games last week, falling 80-70 at Georgia State on Nov. 19 and 81-70 at UT-San Antonio on Nov. 22. The Trojans are dealing with a rash of injuries that included

the loss of point guard Will "Mo" Weathers to a concussion. Also injured are senior guard Travis Lee (knee), junior forward Flynn Clayman (hip) and sophomore guard Nic Combs (hand). Lee is expected back in the next week to 10 days, while Clayman is out until mid-December. Combs is out indefinitely. Senior center Bernard Toombs continues to block shots at a torrid pace. Toombs has 10 blocks in four games and has moved into ninth on Troy's NCAA Division I career list with 49. Toombs is also Troy's active games played career leader (63 games).

Western Kentucky (3-2): The Hilltoppers went 1-2 at the Fourth Annual Puerto Rico Tip-Off in San Juan, P.R. WKU fell 95-77 to eventual tournament champion Minnesota and 64-51 to Davidson, while beating Hofstra, 62-60. Steffphon Pettigrew had 25 points against Minnesota. Reining SBC Player of the Week Juan Pattillo had a pair of double-doubles with 17 points and 10 rebounds against Hofstra and 15 points and 11 rebounds against Davidson.

SBC Results from Last Week:

NOVEMBER 16

Missouri State 81, Arkansas State 71

North Texas 92, Texas Tech 83 (OT)

Iowa 68, Louisiana-Monroe 40

NOVEMBER 17

Florida Atlantic 88, Warner Southern 58

Creighton 63, Louisiana-Lafayette 58

UAB 76, Middle Tennessee 71

Southern Miss 93, South Alabama 58

UALR 108, St. Gregory's 58

Belmont 93, Arkansas State 60

NOVEMBER 18

Florida State 89, FIU 66

Minnesota 95, WKU 77

Colorado State 77, Denver 66

NOVEMBER 19

(4) Campbell 97, Middle Tennessee 90

No. 6/7 Kansas 93, North Texas 60

Cleveland State 60, Louisiana-Lafayette 55

Georgia State 80, Troy 70

WKU 62, Hofstra 60 (4th Annual Puerto Rico Tip-Off - San Juan, P.R.)

NOVEMBER 20

American 82, Florida Atlantic 72

Middle Tennessee 68, Samford 55 (Global Sports Hoops Showcase - Auburn, Ala.)

FIU 65, Utah Valley 62

South Alabama 82, Central Michigan 76 (OT)

Louisiana-Monroe 70, Southeastern Oklahoma State 59

NOVEMBER 21

UALR 63, Illinois State 54

Auburn 68, Middle Tennessee 66 (Global Sports Hoops Showcase - Auburn, Ala.)

Davidson 64, WKU 51 (4th Annual Puerto Rico Tip-Off - San Juan, P.R.)

NOVEMBER 22

Pacific 77, Arkansas State 70 (in Springfield, Mo.)

UTSA 81, Troy 70

SBC Upcoming Games (All Times Mountain):

NOVEMBER 23

Pepperdine vs. Arkansas State 4:30 PM (in Springfield, Mo.)

Florida Atlantic at Florida 6:00 PM

Louisiana-Lafayette at Houston 7:00 PM

Stephen F. Austin at Louisiana-Monroe 7:00 PM

South Alabama at UAB 7:00 PM

Rice at North Texas 7:00 PM

NOVEMBER 24

Evansville at Middle Tennessee 6 PM

UALR at Oral Roberts 6 PM

Alcorn State at Denver 7 PM

NOVEMBER 26

Louisiana Tech at UALR 1 PM

Troy at Mississippi State 6 PM

Louisiana-Monroe vs. Jacksonville State 7:30 PM (Global Sports Roundball Classic - Normal, Ill.)

NOVEMBER 27

Florida Atlantic at George Mason 2 PM

North Texas at Texas State 3 PM

Chattanooga at FIU 5 PM

Louisiana-Monroe at Illinois State 5 PM (Global Sports Roundball Classic - Normal, Ill.)

South Carolina at WKU 5 PM

Arkansas State at Southeast Missouri State 6 PM

Denver at Boise State 7 PM

NOVEMBER 28

Louisiana-Monroe vs. South Dakota 12 PM (Global Sports Roundball Classic - Normal, Ill.)

LSU at South Alabama 2 PM (Coors Classic - Mobile, Ala)

NOVEMBER 29

UAB at Troy 6 PM

FIU at Marshall TBA

Season tickets for the 2010-11 Denver Pioneers men's basketball are currently on sale with ticket packages start at $64. Individual game tickets also are on sale now with prices ranging from $9-$15 for adults. DU students get into the game free with their Pioneer Card.

For ticket information, please visit DenverPioneers.com or call the Pioneer Basketball Ticket Hotline at (303) 871-HOOP.