A-State Remains Unbeaten At Home With 83-79 Win Over UTA

JONESBORO, Ark. (12/12/24) – Taryn Todd’s best performance of the season and a second-half surge lifted the Arkansas State men’s basketball team to an 83-79 victory over UT Arlington on Thursday night inside First National Bank Arena.

The Red Wolves (8-3) trailed at the half but outscored the Mavericks (4-6) 48-40 in the final 20 minutes to remain undefeated at home this season. Todd led the way with 23 points and a career-best eight rebounds, while also dishing out four assists without committing a turnover.

Joseph Pinion scored in double figures for the second straight night with 16 points to go along with a career-high three steals and a pair of blocks. Kobe Julien added 14 points, 10 of which came at the charity stripe on 11 attempts. The preseason Sun Belt Player of the Year was also a force on the glass, grabbing seven rebounds and helping A-State beat UTA 36-33. Rashaud Marshall was the fourth Red Wolf in double figures and scored 10 points.

A-State shot 40.4 percent (23-57) for the game, including a 52.2 percent mark in the second half (12-23), while going a season-best 31-for-42 at the free throw line for a 73.8 percentage. UTA was 28-of-49 (47.5 percent) from the field and 14-of-30 (46.7 percent) from 3-point range, but made just 9-of-21 at the foul line.

UTA had four scorers in double figures, led by Jaden Wells with 19 points. Diante Smith added 15 off the bench, while Lance Ware and Raysean Seamster had 11 and 10, respectively.

The Mavericks jumped out to an early 5-0 lead before A-State got on the board with a Todd trey at the 17:39 mark. A putback by Marshall gave the Scarlet and Black their first lead of the night at 9-8 before UTA built an eight-point lead on a trey by Seamster that made it 24-16.

A seven-point swing pulled the Red Wolves back within one, then a three by Pinion put A-State ahead 35-34 with 1:33 left in the half. UTA responded with five points to end the first 20 minutes with a 39-35 edge.

The visitors held a one-score lead until Todd scored with 13:57 to play to make it 50-48 A-State. Three free throws missed Derrian Ford made it 57-52 before a 6-0 stretch put UTA ahead 58-57 with 10:40 left. Isaiah Nelson scored inside to put the Red Wolves ahead, sparking a 15-0 run that included a thunderous Todd dunk to make it 72-58 with 6:06 left.

UTA pulled back within single digits with under four minutes to play, but A-State continued to convert its foul shots, with all 11 points in the final six minutes coming at the charity stripe. Darius Burford and Wells hit treys late to make it a two-score game, but couldn’t erase the deficit.

NEXT UP

A-State’s final pre-conference test is next on the schedule as it travels to face preseason American Athletic Conference favorite UAB on Sunday. Tip-off against the Blazers inside Bartow Arena is scheduled for 17 on ESPN+, while the radio broadcast can be heard on the EAB Red Wolves Sports Network and the Red Wolves mobile app.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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