LITTLE ROCK — Arkansas State won its fourth in a row, riding 58.6-percent shooting in the second half to defeat Western Kentucky 75-61 in a Sun Belt Conference game Saturday night at the ASU Convocation Center in Jonesboro.
Arkansas State (10-5 overall, 4-2) improved to 7-1 at home, but had to come from behind to do it, overcoming a 27-23 halftime deficit with a 52-point effort in the second half.
ASU made 17 of its 29 field goal attempts in the second half, including 8 of 16 three point attempts.
“The second half was as good as we can play,” ASU Coach John Brady said.
Arkansas State outscored Western Kentucky 16-5 to start the second half, taking a 41-32 lead with 15:54 to play in the game.
The Red Wolves saw their lead shrink to 41-36 with 15 minutes remaining, but Western Kentucky would get no closer.
ASU’s largest lead, 57-42, came with 9:42 to play after a basket from junior forward Kendrick Washington.
SOUTHLAND MEN SE LOUISIANA 72, CENTRAL ARKANSAS 68
Central Arkansas shot 31 percent from the field in the second half as Southeastern Louisiana rallied at the University Center in Hammond, La.
The Bears (5-7, 0-2 Southland Conference) shot 61.5 percent from the field in the first half (16 of 26) as they took a 41-33 halftime lead, but UCA made 9 of 29 shots in the second half.
The Bears made 7 of 10 three-pointers in the first half but were 2 of 8 in the second half and missed three in the final seconds.
UCA also struggled to hold onto the ball, turning it over 18 times.
Southeastern Louisiana (3-9, 1-1) used an aggressive, physical defense to frustrate the Bears.
Sports, Pages 27 on 01/06/2013