Red Wolves down SAU 83-67
JONESBORO, Ark. (11/1/12) - Arkansas State University senior guard Ed Townsel's game-high 22 points led four players in double-figure scoring as the Red Wolves began the 2011-12 men's basketball season with an 83-67 exhibition win over Southern Arkansas this Thursday (Nov. 1) night at the ASU Convocation Center.
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Senior guard Trey Finn contributed 19 points, including 16 in the first half, while junior forward Kendrick Washington tossed in 15 points with six rebounds and senior guard Marcus Hooten added 11 by hitting all three shots from the floor, including two three-point field goals, and three-of-three at the free throw line.
Chris Davis was lone SAU player to tally double figures with 10 points as 10 Muleriders scored at least a point.
The Red Wolves, who outscored their opponent 42-31 in the second half, concluded the contest connecting on 50.0% (28-56) from the field highlighted by 43.5% (10-23) from beyond the arc.
Southern Arkansas connected on 49.0% (24-49) of its shots from the field and were 6-14 from beyond the arc for a 42.9% success rate. ASU also forced 25 Mulerider turnovers in their first action of the campaign.
A-State owned a 35-28 rebounding edge and came up with 10 offensive boards compared to only three for the Muleriders. Ed Townsel led the way with a game-best seven boards while senior forward Brandon Peterson matched Kendrick Washington's six-rebound effort.
SAU turned the ball over 18 times in the contest, but also came up with 12 steals and 13 assists, both game highs.
The two teams started out the contest tied at 15-all before A-State went on a 15-9 scoring run to take a six-point lead at 30-24 on Ed Townsel's three-point play with 7:56 left in the opening half.
The Muleriders would account for the next five points to trim ASU's lead to one (30-29) before the Red Wolves outscored the visitors 8-1 in the next three-plus minutes to go up 39-31 on a Trey Finn three-pointer. A-State would close the half out holding a 41-36 advantage.
ASU led almost the entire second half by double digits, building its lead up to as many as 20 points (61-41) with 10:14 remaining before Southern Arkansas rallied to close the margin within nine points on two occasions with the last being 64-55 at the 6:38 mark.
However, the Muleriders were unable to get any closer as A-State scored eight of the next points en route to the victory.
The exhibition win represented the 15th straight for ASU, who is now 16-1 in such encounters since the 2004-05 season. The 16-point victory also marked the Red Wolves seventh consecutive double-digit margin exhibition decision and the 14th in their last 15 appearances.
Notes: ASU improved to 16-1 in exhibition outings since 2004-05 with tonight's victory.
The Red Wolves prevailed over Southern Arkansas for the second time in exhibition action after claiming a last-second 59-58 decision on Nov 10, 2008 in head coach John Brady's second game on the ASU bench.
A-State's four double-digit point scorers against SAU accounted for 80.7% (67-83) of the team's scoring production.
The Red Wolves' 16-point margin triumph this evening represents the seventh straight exhibition game in which A-State won by double digits.
ASU is averaging 86.1 points per game (1,463 total points) in its last 17 exhibition matchups.
The Red Wolves return to the court Tuesday, Nov. 6, hosting Henderson State at the ASU Convocation Center in their exhibition finale. Game time is set for 7:05 p.m. (CT) and tickets may be purchased by calling the ASU Box Office at 1-888-ASU-FANS or visting AStateRedWolves.com.
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