Another college basketball season is underway, and as always, the season started with 12 MAC-SBC Challenge. Overall, it was a rough day for the Sun Belt Conference, winning just five games, despite being the host conference, but some teams showed out.

Georgia Southern: 67, Ball State: 55

Georgia Southern never struggled against Ball State, using a 15-point halftime lead to cruise to victory. Guard Eltramon Smith was the story, scoring 25 points after averaging just 1.9 points per game last season at Stephen F. Austin.

Old Dominion: 61, Western Michigan: 49

This game was close and hard fought for the majority of the contest, but Old Dominion ran away with it late. Neither team shot particularly well, but it was a great game for guard Zacch Wiggins, who put up 25 points.

Marshall: 92, Buffalo: 65

Marshall was the Sun Belt’s best team in the challenge. Four players scored at least 16 points, including 22 and 11 rebounds from guard Emmanuel Manyuon. If the Thundering Herd can get production like that in their next two games against Toledo and Ohio State, they will be a hard team to beat.

Louisiana Tech: 85, Kent State: 75

Louisiana Tech is undefeated as a Sun Belt team. Forward Braylon Wenger had 28 points and forward Ethan Blackmon had a double-double off the bench. The Bulldogs shot 52% from the field as a team, and never trailed.

Arkansas State: 71, Toledo: 70

This game came down to the final play. Arkansas State kept extending its lead, but Toledo would climb right back into it. The two teams battled back and forth in the final two minutes before forward Jordan Pyke would hit the eventual game winning shot. Guard Tameron Ferguson led all scorers with 20 points.

Bowling Green: 76, Georgia State: 73

A tough loss for Georgia State after letting things get away in the second half. Guard Jacob Meyer had 25 points, but the deficit was too much to complete a comeback.

Miami (OH): 86, James Madison: 77

The highest profile game of the night ended with James Madison losing its second half lead and giving up 51 second half points. On a team with so many big names, none of them had a great night offensively, shooting just 39% as a team, and collapsing defensively down the stretch.

UMass: 71, Troy: 60

Guard Donovan Oday was great. Troy was not. The final score doesn’t look as bad as it was for the Trojans. At one point last night, it was 53-28.Oday’s night came in a loss, but his Troy debut gave him 21 points and 12 rebounds.

Eastern Michigan: 71, Coastal Carolina: 70

Another game that was close throughout, no team led by more than four in the second half. The Chanticleers couldn’t get stops down the stretch, and Eastern Michigan forward Mohammad Habhab had 34 points and 13 rebounds to steal the win.

Central Michigan: 83, ULM: 78

ULM blew a 14-point second half lead to lose this one, starting the season off poorly with three straight power conference games lurking.

Ohio: 86, South Alabama: 77

Three Jaguars combined for 58 points, but it was going to take a team effort to beat a good Ohio team. The Jaguars did have a second half lead, but the Bobcats ran away with it late.

Akron: 75, Louisiana: 61

Louisiana had the misfortune of playing Akron, a team that is likely better than all 14 Sun Belt teams.The Ragin’ Cajuns never led in the game, but it was a strong performance from guard Jamyron Keller, who put up 26 points in his first game back in almost a year.