Sunday, the Arkansas State men’s basketball team took on UT Martin in a scrimmage game. Defensively, the Red Wolves were able to get a lot of stops collectively and had a clear advantage on the glass. Both teams went back and forth, as UT Martin’s offense found a rhythm in the second quarter, allowing the Skyhawks to build a short lead. Arkansas State would lead UT Martin 39-31 at the half.

Both teams were very sloppy throughout the game. In the second half, the Red Wolves were able to regain momentum and score several fast-break points. In addition, the Red Wolves converted more layups and knocked down more 3-pointers.

Head coach Ryan Pannone said the first-half effort could have been better and that the team was “very discombobulated” early on.

“The way that we attacked switching wasn’t great. We just looked a little bit stagnant at times, and that’s not really how we want to look,” Pannone said. “I thought that the defensive effort was really high. I’ve got to clean up some of the technical things, but we want effort over execution. I thought that the effort we had defensively was very high. Those guys made really big plays.”

Pannone said the adjustments made in the second half were key to the victory.

“I thought our guys did a really good job in the second half,” Pannone said. “We spoke at halftime about winning the war on the offensive boards. That’s a big part of our identity. It’s something that we’ve been really good at within practice. I don’t think we hit the boards at the level that we needed to in the first half, and we needed to get up enough threes early.”

Players said Pannone’s style of play has given the team new life and energy heading into the season.

Guard Chandler Jackson said, “I just haven’t been in a role like this, where coach believes in me like this, and he trusts me to go out and play how I play. For me, it’s just getting used to that again. I think we’re all getting used to it too, because he gives his players freedom.”

Guard Joey Chammaa said, I think it’s a different system and a different program. Playing for Coach Pannone is something completely different as far as trust and giving you the ability to go out and play his offensive style. For a player, that’s everything — it gives you confidence. You play with a sense of weight lifted off your shoulders and just go out there with a clear mind, executing in a flow-type offense.”

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