Arkansas State Falls at Georgia Southern, 69-60
Arkansas State saw its road trip take a hit Wednesday night as Georgia Southern pulled away for a 69-60 victory at Hanner Fieldhouse.
The loss drops the Red Wolves to 20-6 overall and 11-2 in Sun Belt Conference play, matching Georgia Southern, which improved to 18-6 and 11-2 in league action.
Crislyn Rose and Zyion Shannon paced Arkansas State with 11 points apiece. Rose also added four assists, while Wynter Rogers led the Red Wolves on the glass with eight rebounds.
Arkansas State struggled from the field, shooting 20-of-65 (31 percent), while Georgia Southern connected on 24-of-51 (47 percent). The Red Wolves went 7-of-21 (33 percent) from beyond the arc, compared to 5-of-12 (42 percent) for the Eagles. Georgia Southern held a 39-36 edge in rebounding, though A-State forced 22 turnovers while committing 15.
The Eagles set the tone early, opening the game on an 11-0 run. Arkansas State responded with a brief 7-2 stretch, but Georgia Southern closed the half with a decisive push, outscoring the Red Wolves 14-2 over the final minutes to build a commanding 27-9 advantage.
A three-pointer from Mia Tarver in the second quarter provided a spark, and five different Red Wolves combined for 13 points in the early part of the frame. However, A-State managed just two more field goals before halftime as Georgia Southern extended its lead to 39-24 at the break.
The Red Wolves mounted a strong third-quarter rally, knocking down four three-pointers in a five-minute span during an 18-4 run that cut the deficit to three. Georgia Southern answered with seven straight points to regain a double-digit cushion, and Arkansas State entered the fourth quarter trailing by 11.
Both teams traded baskets early in the final period, but the Eagles maintained control down the stretch. Although Arkansas State reached the free-throw line late, it was unable to trim the deficit enough to threaten the outcome.
Arkansas State continues its road stretch Saturday, Feb. 14, with a noon tipoff at Marshall. The game will be streamed on ESPN+.