Forward Aly Tounkara tries to move the ball to an open man.

The Arkansas State men’s basketball team turned in its most effective performance of the season in a 91-54 win against the Bowling Green Falcons, marking their largest margin of victory over a Division I opponent in 15 years.

Despite the Red Wolves’ recent victory over Coastal Carolina, the team was stuck in a down streak. The Red Wolves lost five of their previous six games, struggling defensively and failing to finish plays, making this win all the more dramatic. 

The Red Wolves set the tone early off the first possession, as Guard Christian Harmon opened scoring with a three-point basket. The Falcons consistently hesitated to take shots, and even when they made it into the paint several times, the team still failed to convert.

Three minutes in, the Red Wolves hit their second three-point basket, showing a stronger start than usual.

Forward Aly Tounkara was especially noticeable during early game play, completing layups and later slamming a dunk after a Falcons’ miss. 

Head Coach Ryan Pannone, in a post-game press conference, said he noticed Tounkara’s upward trend in play.  

“We’ve seen a lot of growth out of Aly,” Pannone said. “His effort, his attention was really high, and he’s been able to really build on that by focusing on just playing with effort and joy. And we’ve seen him get better.”

Nearly halfway through the first half, the Red Wolves led 10-5, with the Falcons being able to stay within reach largely at the free-throw line. 

At this point, the Red Wolves’ defense was not playing perfectly, but the Falcons’ struggles in converting shots made the separation manageable. The Red Wolves’ defense showed gaps in coverage, which led to breakdowns that put pressure on individual matchups.

The Falcons Guard Josiah Shackelford finally made an aggressive attempt at the paint, drawing two free-throw attempts and converting both. However, the Red Wolves immediately answered, grabbing the rebound and watching Harmon hit back-to-back three-pointers. Harmon finished the first half with seven total from beyond the arc, keeping the Red Wolves in firm control.

The Red Wolves finished the half strong, prevailing on both ends of the floor. The team shot a solid 45.5% from the field and recorded 25 total assists, reflecting their efficient scoring.

“I felt like we played very unselfish tonight,” Harmon said. “We don’t over-dribble, and we used ball fakes to find open guys and knock down shots.” 

Moving the ball quickly and sharing scoring opportunities allowed the Red Wolves to find high-percentage looks while forcing the Falcons into rushed, low-percentage shots.

Even after the Red Wolves had moved to the locker room, leading 40-14, fans stayed on their feet, clearly surprised by the team’s performance.

When the two teams returned to the court for the second half, the game picked up exactly where it left off. The Red Wolves kept pace, while the Falcons continued to hesitate even when open, missing both mid-range and three-point attempts.

Furthermore, the Red Wolves’ defense from beyond the arc was on point, the Falcons only being able to manage 13.3% of their three-point attempts. By contesting shots and forcing hesitation from open shooters, the Red Wolves limited the Falcons’ scoring opportunities and stayed in control throughout the half.

Tounkara continued to stand out during this game, recording his second career double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds. He disrupted the Falcons’ offense and dominated the boards.

After the game, Tounkara said the unselfish play of his teammates allowed him to stay in the game, giving him enough time to earn his double-double.

 “They were ready for the moment, they were happy for me,” Tounkara said.

With Tounkara being an anchor for the paint, the Red Wolves converted their own missed shots into second-chance opportunities. They scored 15 points off offensive rebounds while the Falcons only managed to cough up 1.

Their defense relied on active hands and passing contests as Pannone explained in the post-game presser. 

“When our pass contests are over 80%, we force turnovers,” Pannone said.

By contesting passes, the Red Wolves limited the Falcons’ clean looks at the basket, creating more opportunities to score in transition.

Forcing another turnover, the Red Wolves pushed the pace. The ball moved quickly up the court, Harmon found an open lane, and forward Jackson Ellingsworth finished it with a dunk. 

Moments later, Guard/Forward Freddy-Salam Sylla followed with a slam after a fast pass from the perimeter. In these possessions, the Red Wolves were turning quick ball movement into easy points.

In the final moments, the Falcons continued to struggle with their shot attempts. The Red Wolves kept crashing boards and securing rebounds, which extended their lead.

As the clock ran out, the Red Wolves stood ahead 91-54, sealing their win. Their performance during this game offered a better picture of what the Red Wolves can do.

“I feel like we know what we’re capable of,” Harmon said. “Games, like this, give you momentum and then confidence.” 

The Red Wolves will go back into action at First National Bank Arena on Feb. 11 to face the University of Louisiana-Monroe.

Categories: Sports