Wolves can’t break Raiders’ home streak

Friday, February 8, 2013

— Arkansas State’s men’s basketball team entered Thursday’s game with the distinction of being the only Sun Belt Conference team to beat Middle Tennessee this season.

But the Red Wolves couldn’t repeat the feat on the Blue Raiders’ home floor at the Murphey Center in Murfreesboro, Tenn.

Paced by big runs to start both halves, Middle Tennessee beat Arkansas State 73-60 on Thursday to win its 10th consecutive game overall and its 24th consecutive home game.

The loss broke Arkansas State’s three-game winning streak and came five days after the Red Wolves pulled even with UALR atop the Sun Belt West Division.

The Blue Raiders, who had a three-game lead in the East Division before Thursday, haven’t lost since falling to ASU 66-60 in overtime Jan. 3 in Jonesboro.

But Thursday’s game was never in doubt.

The Blue Raiders (21-4, 13-1) made their first five shots from the floor and started on a 12-1 run. With 12:30 left in the first half, they led 16-5 and 22-10 with 7:30 left.

ASU (14-9, 8-6) got to within seven points twice before halftime, but Middle Tennessee closed the half on a 10-4 run to take a 34-21 lead.

Middle Tennessee, which made 14 of 25 shots from the floor in the first half while ASU made 7 of 23, then started the second half on a 16-2 run to go up 50-23 and led by31 points at one point of the second half.

Cameron Golden led ASU, which never led, with 15 points and Marcus Hooten added 10. Brandon Peterson, who had 15 points and nine rebounds in the last meeting, was held to 4 points on 1-of-5 shooting. But he had eight rebounds.

Neiko Hunter led Middle Tennessee with 17 points on 8-of-11 shooting, and Marcos Knight added 15 points and 11 rebounds.

The Blue Raiders shot 53.6 percent from the floor and held ASU to 36.5 percent.

ASU next goes to Western Kentucky on Saturday, before hosting UALR next Thursday, a game that could get ASU back into at least a tie atop the West Division.

THURSDAY’S GAMES

UALR 70, La.-Monroe 60 Middle Tennessee 73, Arkansas St.60 Fla. International 84, Florida Atlantic 65 W. Kentucky 70, North Texas 59 South Alabama 65, Troy 62

SATURDAY’S GAMES All times Central

Troy at Middle Tennessee, 5 p.m.

Arkansas State at W. Kentucky, 7 p.m.

Fla. International at North Texas, 7 p.m.

Fla. Atlantic at S. Alabama, 7:30 p.m.

THURSDAY, FEB. 14 GAMES

W. Kentucky at Florida Atlantic, 6 p.m.

UALR at Arkansas State, 7:05 p.m.

La.-Lafayette at S. Alabama, 7:05 p.m.

Fla. International at Troy, 7:30 p.m.

North Texas at La.-Monroe, 7:30 p.m.

Sports, Pages 22 on 02/08/2013