SUN BELT MEN

Murray State breaks through at ASU

— It’s been a tough road for Murray State when it comes to playing in Jonesboro, but for a change the Racers managed to get out of town with a victory Wednesday night.

Isaiah Canaan scored 18 points as Murray State defeated Arkansas State 61-54 in front of a season-high 2,834 fans at the Convocation Center. Murray State hadn’t won in its past eight trips to Jonesboro, with its last road victory at ASU coming in 1962.

Stacy Wilson added 12 points and 13 rebounds for Murray State (9-1), which won its sixth consecutive game and extended its school-record road winning streak to 16 games.

Ed Townsel scored 15 points for ASU (6-4). Brandon Peterson added 14 points and 11 rebounds, and Raeford Worsham scored 13. It was Peterson’s fifth game this season with at least 10 points and 10 rebounds.

“We played well enough to win the game but didn’t play well from an offensive standpoint in that we need to shoot the ball better,”ASU Coach John Brady said. “I don’t think anybody has guarded that team as good as we have.”

ASU forced Murray State into 18 turnovers, which led to 13 points. The Red Wolves came up with 14 steals and blocked four shots, but the defensive effort wasn’t enough to overcome 36.2 percent shooting from the field. That included just 13 percent from behind the three-point line and 55.6 percent (10 of 18) from the free-throw line.

Murray State shot 41.2 percent from the field, including 28 percent from behind the three-point line, and made 13 of 15 free throws (86.7 percent).

The game was tied at 47-47 with 8 minutes left when Canaan and Dexter Field hit back-to-back three-pointers for Murray State.

The Red Wolves pulled within 55-54 on Townsel’s two free throws with 1:25 remaining, but Wilson responded with a three-pointer for the Racers and Canaan added two free throws with 12 seconds left to close it out.

“Our effort and plan to guard them was extremely effective,” Brady said. “We couldn’t afford to leave points on the table, and we couldn’t make the plays at the times we needed to make them.”SUN BELT WOMEN Morrill, Wyatt ignite ASU

It appears everyone on the Arkansas State women’s basketball team is settling in at home.

Three ASU players scored 10 or more points Wednesday as the Red Wolves picked up their third consecutive victory in Jonesboro, defeating Nicholls State 66-58 at the Convocation Center.

Jane Morrill finished with 21 points, 6 rebounds and 3 blocks on the way to her 18th consecutive game with at least 10 points.

ASU (4-7) led 30-26 at halftime but quickly extended that to 11 points in the second half after a strong start by Carlisha Wyatt. The junior scored six points in six minutes and finished with 14 points and six rebounds.

The Red Wolves never trailed in the second half, but Nicholls State (7-3) cut the lead to 56-51 with 4:37 to go. Quinishia McDowell knocked down two free throws to push the lead to seven, and Morrill gave Arkansas State a 60-51 lead after scoring on a tough shot underneath the basket.

ASU pulled away late thanks to solid production from its guards. Hanna Qedan scored 7 of her 10 points in the final 20 minutes, while Ashley Olvera dished out 4 assists andhad 1 steal and 1 block.

Arkansas State’s defense held Nicholls State below its season average of 66 points and limited them to 35 percent shooting from the field.

“I thought our first-half defense was exceptional,” ASU Coach Brian Boyer said. “I think in the first 18 minutes we held them to just 19 points, and really throughout the entire game it was a really good defensive effort.”

ASU missed its first 10 shots from the field but managed to keep pace with the Colonels by hitting free throws. The Red Wolves were 9 of 10 from the free-throw line in the first half, including a 7-of-8 performance by Morrill.

ASU trailed 11-5 with 13:25 left in the half but went on a 10-1 run to take a 15-12 lead. The Colonels rallied to tie the score at 17-17, but ASU answered with seven consecutive points, including a threepointer by Andi Watson for a 24-17 lead with 4:16 left in the first half.

The lead swelled to 30-19 after Wyatt scored six consecutive points, but Nicholls State ended the half with a 7-2 run to close the gap to 30-26.

“That was a crucial stretch in the first half where Carlisha got those two three-point plays,” Boyer said. “She had really big points for us this afternoon.”

Sports, Pages 22 on 12/20/2012

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