Photo by Ibuki Hinohara | Photo Editor

The Arkansas State Red Wolves men’s basketball team bounced back from their slump Saturday afternoon in a 95-70 blowout over the Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks.

The Red Wolves started the game somewhat slow. ULM made a few baskets to take a 13-11 lead early in the first half. A-State soon retook the lead off the back of a successful three-point shot from guard Derrian Ford.

The Red Wolves never gave the lead back once they retook it. Forward Dyondre Dominguez was a huge reason for this, as he scored 20 points in the first half, and was the team’s leading scorer. Dominguez came off the bench for this game, and recorded 3 rebounds, 3 assists and a block.

Ford also had a great game from the bench and contributed to the success from the Arkansas State bench. Ford scored 14 points off of 4 three-pointers and 5-11 from the field. Ford contributed to the Red Wolves getting a whopping 42 points from the bench. 

“I mean it starts with Dre, obviously,” head coach Bryan Hodgson said. “You know, 20 points in 17 minutes, four for six from 3. And Derrian Ford gave us a huge spark. You know, Derrian and Dyondre  are two guys that could start and play 30 minutes at almost any other program in the Sun Belt. And they both have had huge games for us.”

Photo by Ibuki Hinohara | Photo Editor

The 50-29 score at halftime was already getting out of hand for ULM as they were down 21 points. It only got worse from there, as the Red Wolves never let up pressure in the second half. A-State also did not pull out their starters until late in the second half. The Red Wolves won the game in blowout fashion, with a final score of 95-70.

Forward Izaiyah Nelson had a big game, recording a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds. Nelson was a major contributor to a game that became a slam dunk party, with A-State recording 12 in the game. Guard Taryn Todd scored 14, and went 7-9 from the field.

The win secured the Red Wolves their second consecutive 20-win season, the first time they have achieved this since 1989.

“When you’re playing for the right things and you’re playing for one another, you’re going to have success,” Hodgson said. “It’s great that we got to 20 wins. We’re not done yet, and we plan on that being the standard around here.”

Guard Avery “The Mayor” Felts had plenty to say about the Red Wolves recent string of success. Felts has played with the Red Wolves since his freshman year, and was honored amongst the seniors at the Senior Day ceremony. Felts played with the Red Wolves before Hodgson’s arrival, and thus played during some bad years at A-State.

“I mean it’s been a big turnaround,” Felts said. “Obviously we went from winning maybe three games in conference the year before Coach got here, and now we got a chance to win the league. It’s been cool to see how we’ve become closer as a team and a lot more disciplined. And I think discipline is very important to winning basketball games.”

The win puts a stop on the recent skid the Red Wolves had been on. Before this game, A-State had lost 4 of their last 5, and are currently in third place in the Sun Belt Conference, although they have the best overall record in the conference at 20-9. The Red Wolves will be on the road Wednesday to take on the Louisiana Ragin’ Cajuns.

Categories: Sports