Four Arkansas State players scored at least 10 points each as the Red Wolves snapped South Alabama’s three-game winning streak with a 74-62 victory Thursday night at the Convocation Center in Jonesboro.
Guards Trey Finn and Rakeem Dickerson scored 18 points each, Ed Townsell added 11 and Marcus Hooten had 10 for the Red Wolves, who have won back-to-back games following Saturday’s victory over Florida Atlantic.ASU had lost three of four games prior to that.
ASU (13-8, 7-5 Sun Belt Conference) was held to 36.4 percent shooting (20 of 55) and committed 17 turnovers, but it held a 43-34 rebounding advantage and used a good start to build an early lead.
A 9-0 run capped by Townsel’s layup gave the Red Wolves a 13-4 lead, a 12-2 run capped with a jump by Finn and his two free throws made it 29-13 with 7:01 left inthe first half.
ASU led 35-29 at halftime. After South Alabama pulled to within 55-53 with 4:30 left, Dickerson made a free throw and Finn made a three-pointer and scored a putback to make it 63-53. The lead never dipped below nine points the rest of the game.
Finn added eight rebounds and three steals and Hooten added five assists for the Red Wolves.
Augustine Rubit scored 18 points and had nine rebounds for South Alabama (11-9, 8-4), and Javier Carter added 11 points.
THURSDAY’S GAMES Arkansas State 74, South Alabama 62 Florida Atlantic 76, La.-Monroe 71 Middle Tenn. 66, Fla. International 64 La.-Lafayette 105, North Texas 74
Sports, Pages 19 on 02/01/2013