Photo by: Krishnan Collins | Sports Editor: J.J. Matthews finds Caleb Fields in A-State’s 83-77 loss to Coastal Carolina. 

JONESBORO- A whopping 54 free throw attempts was not enough to see the Arkansas State men’s basketball team take down Coastal Carolina as the Red Wolves fell to the Chanticleers 83-77.

A-State only shot 72% from the line and Coastal shot 52% from the field. Despite the First National Bank Arena faithful voicing their complaints at the officials, the Red Wolves really only had themselves to blame. A-State went 39-54 from the free throw line and Coastal only shot a total of 23 free shots.

However, A- State head coach Mike Balado placed more of the blame on his team’s defense.

“Defensively we were ridiculous,” Balado said. “It’s embarrassing the way we’re guarding the ball. Embarrassing. I told them that in the locker room and I’ll tell everyone in the media. It’s embarrassing.”

Balado said his team needed to get back to the basics.

“(I’m not liking) our on the ball defense,” Balado said. “Guys just driving by and no resistance at all just getting right to the basket. No guys rotating over trying to block shots. No guys in the second line gaps trying to make them pitch it one more.”

Four Red Wolves scored in double digits on the night. Caleb Fields was a bright spot with 21 points while J.J. Matthews scored 19, Marquis Eaton registered 15 and Malik Brevard chipped in 14.

“I think with (Fields) it’s all about when he can get to the basket,” Balado said. “I think in games where he plays in transition he looks good. And he can play in the half court, but offensively it gives him more opportunities to drive and get fouled. I thought he’s played well the last two games.”

Game Summary

Second Half

The Red Wolves battled back at the start of the second half after a first half deficit and A-State took the lead on a Matthews no look pass to Brevard. Brevard’s finish put A-State ahead 50-48.

With 9:58 to play in the game, Coastal’s Levi Cook fouled out of the game.

Just under 30 seconds later, Tommy Burton fouled out for the Chanticleers.

In a heavily whistled game, A-State was not short on foul trouble either. Matthews, who was dominating the game, picked up his fourth foul with 5:58 to play.

The Red Wolves went 2-16 on 3-point shots during the game and their first 3-pointer did not fall until just over 15 minutes into the second half.

Eaton drained A-State’s first 3-point basket with 5:37 to play to bring the Red Wolves within one of Coastal at a 64-63 scoreline.

However, Eaton air-balled his next 3-pointer and Brevard got into foul trouble when he picked up his fourth foul with 4:46 to play.

The game really got away from A-State when Matthews fouled out with 3:26 to play. The big man found his rhythm against the Chants and the Red Wolves needed him on the court during the last three minutes.

After Brevard sunk two free throws with one minute to go, Balado called a timeout with his team down 75-71. The next in-bounds play by Coastal would be a big moment in the game if A-State wanted to make a comeback.

However, out of the timeout, DeVante Jones found Marion, Arkansas native Tim Ceasar for an alley-oop dunk to give the Chants a 77-71 lead and all the momentum.

First Half

The Red Wolves started the game miserably. A-State went 1-9 from the field through the opening eight minutes.

However, Coastal had no such slow start. The visitors shot 53% from the field in the first half and jumped out to a 15-4 lead but the Chanticleers hurt themselves by committing multiple fouls throughout the first period.

A-State went to the free throw line 25 times in the half compared to Coastal’s two trips to the line and 17 of the Red Wolves’ points were scored off free shots.

Matthews kept the Red Wolves in the game as the 6-foot-9-inch redshirt junior dominated the paint. Matthews got to the free throw line eight times in the first half by himself and knocked down six of his free shots.

It took Fields a while to get going, but the freshman finally kicked into gear and carried the team on his back for the last eight minutes of the half. Fields finished the first half with 14 points but Coastal took a 41-33 lead into the break.

Looking Ahead

A-State heads to Little Rock Feb. 8 for a big in-state rivalry game. Tip off is set for 2 p.m.

Categories: Sports