Red Wolves Look to Snap Skid at Coastal Carolina
The Arkansas State men’s basketball team heads east Wednesday night looking to get back in the win column as the Red Wolves take on Coastal Carolina in a Sun Belt Conference matchup inside the HTC Center. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m. CT, with the game streaming on ESPN+.
Arkansas State enters the contest at 13-10 overall and 5-6 in league play, while Coastal Carolina sits at 14-10 and 7-5 in the Sun Belt. The Red Wolves are searching for their first conference road win since Jan. 22 and will try to halt a three-game losing streak.
Despite recent struggles, A-State has had Coastal Carolina’s number lately. The Red Wolves have won four straight meetings in the series, including a dominant 97-67 victory in Jonesboro last season. Overall, Arkansas State holds an 8-6 edge in the all-time matchup and is 3-2 in games played in Conway.
One of Arkansas State’s biggest strengths continues to be on the glass. The Red Wolves average 39.7 rebounds per game, ranking 34th nationally, and lead the Sun Belt with a +6.4 rebounding margin. Senior Jalen Hampton paces the team at 8.1 rebounds per contest, while A-State’s 13.7 offensive boards per game also sit among the nation’s best.
Offensively, Arkansas State plays at one of the fastest tempos in the conference, averaging 81.5 points per game — second in the Sun Belt. That scoring punch has been balanced, with five Red Wolves averaging double figures, led by Matt Hayman at 12.0 points per game. Christian Harmon (11.7), Jaxon Ellingsworth (10.2), Joey Chammaa (10.1) and Chandler Jackson (10.0) round out a deep rotation that ranks among the national leaders in bench scoring.
Harmon has been particularly dangerous from long range, knocking down a team-high 2.2 three-pointers per game and recording multiple makes from beyond the arc in each of his last five outings.
Coastal Carolina counters with Joshua Beadle, who leads the Chanticleers at 16.3 points per game and also tops the team in assists. A.J. Dancler provides perimeter scoring, averaging 2.3 made threes per contest, while Nadjrick Peat anchors the defense with a team-best 1.5 blocks per game.
Statistically, Arkansas State holds the edge in scoring (81.5 to 73.2), rebounding, assists and steals, while Coastal Carolina allows fewer points per game and has been more efficient defensively from the field. The matchup sets up as a contrast between A-State’s pace and depth versus Coastal’s half-court execution.
A win Wednesday would mark Arkansas State’s fifth straight over the Chanticleers, snap the current losing streak, and keep the Red Wolves in the middle of a tightly packed Sun Belt standings race as February play continues.
Broadcast information includes ESPN+ for television and the EAB Red Wolves Sports Network.