LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas State senior guard Ed Townsel scored a career-high 31 points and Raeford Worsham added 18 as the Red Wolves picked up their first Sun Belt Conference victory by defeating Louisiana-Lafayette 87-70 Thursday night at the Convocation Center in Jonesboro.

Townsel made 9 of 15 shots from the floor and 10 of 11 free throws as ASU (7-5, 1-2) shot 46.4 percent from the field.

It was the Red Wolves’ first conference victory after losing road games to Florida International and Florida Atlantic in November, and it snapped a two-game losing skid.

Townsel scored eight points in the game’s first seven minutes and his layup with 13:19 left gave ASU a 19-6 lead. The Red Wolves led by as many as 14 points twice in the first half before taking a 38-30 lead into halftime.

Marcus Hooten added 11 points for the Red Wolves, who held a 41-31 rebounding edge. Brandon Peterson and Trey Finn had eight rebounds each, and Worsham added seven.

Elfrid Payton led Louisiana-Lafayette (5-9, 1-2) with 20 points.

Sports, Pages 22 on 12/29/2012