Arkansas State Rallies Past Ohio 89–85 To Open 2025-26 Season

Arkansas State Photo

The Ryan Pannone era of Arkansas State men’s basketball is officially underway — and it started with a comeback win on the road.

The Red Wolves erased a seven-point second-half deficit to earn an 89–85 victory over Ohio on Monday night at The Convocation Center, giving Pannone his first collegiate head coaching victory and making him the first A-State coach to win in his debut since Dickey Nutt in 1995.

Junior guards Chandler Jackson and Joey Chammaa led the way with 21 points apiece, while Chammaa fueled the second-half surge with 17 points after the break, including a career-high four three-pointers on 7 attempts.

Arkansas State (1–0) shot 48.2 percent (27-of-56) from the field, 37 percent (10-of-27) from beyond the arc, and an impressive 89.3 percent (25-of-28) at the free-throw line. The Red Wolves also dominated the boards, outrebounding Ohio (0–1) 41–25, including 13 offensive rebounds.

After a back-and-forth start, A-State found its rhythm midway through the first half with a 12–0 run sparked by back-to-back three-pointers from TJ Caldwell and a pair of free throws from Jaxon Ellingsworth, turning a 12–9 deficit into a 19–12 lead.

However, Ohio stormed back with a 20–0 run over six minutes to build an 11-point advantage before the Red Wolves clawed back late in the half. Layups from Chammaa and Jalen Hampton, followed by a Royal Blue Smith three-pointer, cut the margin to 39–34 at halftime.

The Bobcats maintained control early in the second half, but Arkansas State refused to go away. Jackson’s three-point play and Chammaa’s perimeter shooting helped narrow the gap, and with 9:07 remaining, Chammaa buried another triple to give A-State its first lead since the opening minutes.

Ohio briefly regained the advantage, but Ellingsworth scored four straight points to tie it again before Chammaa knocked down his fourth three-pointer to swing momentum back to the Red Wolves. Down the stretch, A-State sealed the win at the free-throw line, hitting six consecutive foul shots and closing the game on Jackson’s final two free throws with seven seconds left.

The victory was not only a milestone for Pannone but also a statement for a completely rebuilt A-State roster featuring 15 newcomers.

The Red Wolves now turn their attention to Stephen F. Austin as they continue their early-season road swing. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7, at William R. Johnson Coliseum in Nacogdoches, Texas. The game will be streamed live on ESPN+ and broadcast on the EAB Red Wolves Sports Network.