JONESBORO — Martavius Adams led the way for Arkansas State with 16 points and 13 rebounds in a 63-47 victory over North Texas that made his team 12-0 at the Convocation Center this season.
Down 39-36 with 12:49 left, ASU outscored North Texas 27-7 the remainder of the game to stay atop the Sun Belt Conference Western Division.
ASU (16-14, 10-5 Sun Belt) took its first lead at 27-26 ontwo free throws from Adams, a junior forward who scored six of his team’s first eight points. The teams then swapped onepoint leads until a field goal by Alonzo Edwards put North Texas up 36-33 with 15:36 remaining.
After sophomore forward Brandon Peterson tied it at 36-36, Dominique Johnson hit a three-pointer to give North Texas (17-10, 6-8) a 39-36 lead with 12:49 to play. But that was the last lead for the Mean Green.
“I thought it was as good a defensive effort from a team that I put on the floor and I’ve had some pretty good defensive basketball teams,” RedWolves Coach John Brady said. “Outside of a game against Duke in the regional finals of the NCAA Tournament [while at LSU], this is as good a defensive effort that I’ve had.”
It didn’t start well for the Red Wolves. North Texas started the game with a threepointer from guard Josh White and built an 11-2 lead before ASU forward Malcoln Kirkland dunked with 13:42 left in the half and guard Rashad Allison followed with a field goal to cut the deficit to 11-6.
The Red Wolves fell behind 5-0 early in the game after North Texas guard Josh White hit a three-pointer just moments into the game as theMean Green opened things with a 11-2 run that lasted until a dunk by ASU forward Malcoln Kirkland ended the onslaught with 13:42 left on the clock and was followed by a field goal by Rashad Allison to cut the deficit to 11-6.
NORTH TEXAS (17-10) Odufuwa 3-10 6-7 12, Hogans 2-4 0-0 4, White 3-9 2-2 10, Thompson 1-10 6-8 8, Shorter 2-6 0-0 4, Johnson 1-5 0-0 3, Egenti 0-1 0-0 0, Redmond 0-0 0-0 0, Knox 1-2 0-0 2, Edwards 2-3 0-0 4. Totals 15-50 14-17 47.
ARKANSAS ST. (16-14) Adams 4-10 8-11 16, Peterson 4-6 1-2 9, Finn 3-10 2-3 8, Allison 2-6 0-2 4, Boone 3-12 6-6 12, Thomas 0-1 0-0 0, Sterrenberg 0-0 0-0 0, Townsel 1-3 8-10 10, Kirkland 2-5 0-0 4. Totals 19-53 25-34 63.
Halftime-North Texas 26-25. 3-Point Goals-North Texas 3-15 (White 2-5, Johnson 1-4, Thompson 0-6), Arkansas St. 0-8 (Townsel 0-1, Finn 0-2, Allison 0-2, Boone 0-3). Fouled Out-Hogans, Odufuwa. Rebounds-North Texas 42 (Odufuwa 14), Arkansas St. 37 (Adams 13). Assists-North Texas 9 (Thompson 4), Arkansas St. 6 (Adams, Allison, Boone, Finn, Peterson, Townsel 1). Total Fouls-North Texas 23, Arkansas St. 15. Attendance-3,724.
Sports, Pages 22 on 02/25/2011