SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Pacific scored the game’s first 12 points against Arkansas State on Monday in the consolation round of the NIT Season Tipoff at the JQH Arena, and the Red Wolves never fully recovered.
ASU (0-4) rallied to within 35-31 at halftime, but the Red Wolves never could get the lead, falling to Pacific 77-70 in a game delayed for 18 minutes in the first-half because of a tornado warning.
Junior forward Malcoln Kirkland led four Red Wolves who scored 10 or more points, combining 14 points with 4 blocked shots. Junior forward Martavius Adams and senior guard Donald Boone each had 12 points while sophomore forward Brandon Peterson had 10 and led ASU with 9 rebounds.
ASU tied the game once, on a jumper by Kirkland with 1:14 left in the first half.
Pacific (3-1) went up 12-0 at the outset but settled for a four-point lead at halftime.
ASU outrebounded Pacific 38-32, hit 18 of 22 from the free-throw line but shot only 39.7 percent from the field, making 23 of 58.
ASU plays Pepperdine today. Tipoff is set for 4:30 p.m.
ARKANSAS ST. (0-4) Peterson 1-7 7-8 10, Adams 5-12 2-4 12, Finn 1-4 2-2 4, Allison 1-2 0-0 3, Boone 4-8 2-2 12, Bryant 3-11 1-1 8, Thomas 0-0 0-0 0, Sterrenberg 0-0 0-0 0, Townsel 1-3 4-4 7, Kirkland 7-11 0-1 14. Totals 23-58 18-22 70.
PACIFIC (4-1) Williams 4-6 6-9 14, Willard 5-6 2-4 12, Young 6-11 5-5 19, Smith 1-8 3-3 5, Rivera 3-5 3-3 12, Coley 2-2 0-0 4, Kelley 0-0 0-1 0, Eveland 2-7 0-0 5, Huddleston 1-5 3-6 6, Turner 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-50 22-31 77.
Halftime-Pacific 35-31. 3-Point Goals-Arkansas St. 6-17 (Boone 2-5, Townsel 1-1, Allison 1-1, Peterson 1-1, Bryant 1-6, Finn 0-3), Pacific 7-21 (Rivera 3-5, Young 2-6, Huddleston 1-3, Eveland 1-4, Smith 0-3). Fouled Out-None. Rebounds-Arkansas St. 38 (Peterson 9), Pacific 32 (Williams 6). Assists-Arkansas St. 12 (Allison 5), Pacific 14 (Young 6). Total Fouls- Arkansas St. 22, Pacific 17. Attendance-NA.
SUN BELT WOMEN NO. 20 ST. JOHN’S 60, ARKANSAS STATE 48
JONESBORO - Arkansas State (3-2) had three players score in double figures and trailed 20th-ranked St. John’s by only one point at halftime, but the Red Storm (4-1) was able to hold the Red Wolves off in the second half to claim a 60-48victory Monday night at the ASU Convocation Center.
ASU was led by Shay Scott with 12 points, while NeNe Hurst added 11 points and Quinishia McDowell 10. Hurst also pulled down a team-high seven rebounds, and Jazmine Taylor handed out a teamhigh five assists. The Red Storm also had three players reach double digits and two finish with a double-double.
A-State saw its shooting percentage drop from 42 percent in the first half to 34 in the second, while St. John’s maintained a 44 percent mark from the field throughout the game. The Red Storm pulled down 12 more boards and outscored the Red Wolves 24-14 in the paint during the second half.
Sports, Pages 22 on 11/23/2010