JONESBORO -- A third quarter three-point attempt had the potential to tie Arkansas State's game against No. 16 Florida when it left Brittany Fowler's hand on Tuesday night.
Instead, it clanged off the rim, Florida scored two possessions later, then used a run midway through the fourth quarter to eventually decide its 71-60 victory at the Convocation Center.
Dominique Oliver scored a career-high 23 points for ASU (0-4), which kept the game within 12 points until the final five minutes, while its 25-game home winning streak was snapped.
Florida shot 42.4 percent for the game, and 38.7 percent in the second half.
"Defensively, pleased start to finish," Coach Brian Boyer said. "We really battled. There were some individual mistakes in there, but we certainly gave it our best on the defensive end."
ASU entered Tuesday trying to rebound from road losses at Oklahoma State, Austin Peay and Tennessee State. Boyer thought his team's defensive energy was lacking in those games, and was pleased with improvement seen Tuesday. It was almost enough for ASU to beat a ranked team for the first time in 12 seasons.
Florida took an early 11-2 lead, but Oliver's three-pointer in the closing seconds of the first half got ASU to within 35-31. ASU then got within 40-37 and had a chance to tie it when Fowler missed a three-pointer. Florida (4-0) then went on a 10-2 run. Tahlon Hopkins, who finished with 11 points, made a three followed by two free throws to make it 50-45 heading into the fourth quarter.
It was 54-51 after a Fowler three-pointer, but Eleanna Christinaki, who had 23 points, answered for Florida with a three to spark a 13-2 game-deciding run.
ASU shot 30.3 percent from the floor and made 9 of 22 three-pointers.
"We tried to really change some things offensively in the matter of two days," Boyer said. "And I think at times today it helped us, but also at times it hurt us. But it's all a part of the long-term plan with this group."
SOUTHLAND WOMEN
CENTRAL ARKANSAS 82, WILLIAMS BAPTIST 32
Taylor Baudoin finished with 17 points and 7 rebounds as Central Arkansas (3-1) routed Williams Baptist (2-5) at the Farris Center in Conway. The Sugar Bears jumped out to an 11-0 lead, built a 48-21 halftime advantage, then extended it to 68-23 by the end of the third quarter.
Maggie Proffitt scored 13 points. She made 3 three-pointers, increasing her career total to 202 three-pointers made, becoming one of eight players in Southland Conference history to make at least 200 three-pointers. Her 202 three-pointers rank seventh in conference history. Brianna Mullins added 14 points. Maddie Goodner chipped in with 11 points.
SUN BELT MEN
ASU 75, SIU-EDWARDSVILLE 57
JONESBORO — Devin Carter’s three-pointer stopped a Southern Illinois-Edwardsville run and started one for Arkansas State as the Red Wolves raced to a home victory Tuesday night at the Convocation Center.
The Cougars (2-3) had used a 15-7 run to take a 39-33 lead with 15 minutes left until Carter’s three-pointer a minute later sparked an 11-0 run that gave ASU control.
The run included a putback by Nelson Nweke, a layup by Deven Simms, a dunk by C.J. Foster, and a layup from Carter to make it 44-39 with 11:25 left.
Carter’s three-point play with 7:06 left made it 55-43 and the lead grew to as large as 75-57 in the final minute.
“When you’re out there in a competitive environment, when winning is on the line, usually you’ve got one or two runs in [you],” Coach Grant McCasland said. “I wasn’t sitting over there going ‘How is this going to work?’ I just knew we were going to bring it at some point.” Simms led ASU with 17 points on 7 of 9 shooting and he added 6 rebounds.
Carter had 14 points and 6 rebounds. His last points came on a three-pointer with 2:40 remaining before he left with an ankle injury.
“It’s in pain right now, but I’m going to bounce back,” Carter said.
Rashad Lindsey had 11 points, including a three-pointer with 9:42 left that put ASU up 48-43.
ASU shot 56.9 percent for the game, including 66.7 percent in the second half.
Christian Ellis led Southern Illinois-Edwardsville with 13 points.
PEPPERDINE 66, UALR 65
Kemy Osse’s three-point attempt with one second remaining did not fall and UALR (3-2) lost to Pepperdine (4-1) in the Lone Star Showcase at Cedar Park, Texas.
Lis Shoshi led UALR with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Jalen Jackson had 13 points, 8 rebounds and 2 steals. Marcus Johnson Jr. added 12 points.
Jeremy Major scored 16 points to lead Pepperdine. Chris Reyes had 14 points and 10 rebounds.
The Trojans led 34-32 at halftime and extended their lead to 43-36 with 16:00 left on Jackson’s layup. But the Waves came back to take a 55-48 lead with 8:26 remaining.
Shoshi’s tip-in tied the game at 63-63 with 1:46 remaining. Pepperdine regained the lead at 66-63 with 1:21 left on Amadi Udenyi’s three-pointer. A basket by Shoshi pulled the Trojans within 66-65 with 46 seconds left. UALR had a chance to take the lead, but Jackson missed a jumper with 8 seconds left. Maurius Hill got the offensive rebound off Jackson’s missed jumper, but couldn’t make the tip-in.
Sports on 11/23/2016