Arkansas State basketball hosted their first home game against Toledo on Monday, winning a 71-70 thriller against the Rockets.

Last season, the Red Wolves went 20-12 and 11-7 in conference play, tying for sixth in the conference. Coming into the 2026-27 year, A-State is the projected No. 1 seed in the Sun Belt Conference (SBC).

Toledo was coming off a 19-15 record and an 11-7 conference record, finishing fourth in the Mid-American Conference (MAC). The Rockets reached the MAC tournament championship before losing to Akron, 79-76.

To start the game, both teams relied on inside the paint to create shots. Toledo opened with a layup, getting the Rockets’ offense going and into a rhythm.

The Rockets then went on a 12-0 run to 19-7 with 11:01 left in the half, making their presence known by shutting the Red Wolves down in the paint and forcing contested three-pointers.

The Red Wolves responded with a 7-1 run with 7:59 left in the half to cut the lead to 16-20, using defensive stops to force the Rockets into the lane without giving them space for midrange jumpers or easy layups.

A-State got defensive stops in the half-court set, but they didn’t force many turnovers or turn them into fast breaks; they forced Toledo to just seven turnovers in the first half and had only two fast-break points.

The Red Wolves missed many layups and three-pointers, and struggled as they ran most plays from their half-court sets, giving the Rockets’ defense time to set up. They forced the Rockets to play aggressively on defense, drew fouls and took advantage of second-chance points, grabbing nine offensive boards in the first half.

Two players found their footing early: guards Layne Taylor and Aaron McGee. Taylor had nine points, going 3-for-7 from the field and 3-for-5 from the three-point line. McGee was 3-for-3 from the field and 2-for-2 from the three-point line. Tameron Ferguson also found his mark in the first half, scoring five points on 2-for-3 shooting from the field, 1-for-2 from the three-point line, and grabbing four boards.

The Rockets’ players who found their rhythm were guard Mynor Strong and forward Jaylan Ouwinga. Strong had 11 points, shooting 4-for-9 from the field and 2-for-6 from the 3-point range. Ouwinga had 10 points, shooting 5-for-12 from the field and seven rebounds in the first half.

Both teams struggled shooting from the field and from three because they couldn’t get shots up in their first live game action since their exhibition game.

Early in the first half, both sides felt the pressure of the season opener—several Red Wolves hesitated before taking open looks and communicated anxiously on the bench, while the Rockets clapped and called out to each other to shake off the jitters. A-State leaders like Taylor tried to calm his teammates during timeouts, pulling them together in a quick huddle and encouraging them to focus on the next play.

Visible nerves were present in rushed passes, missed layups, and quick substitutions as both coaches searched for lineups that could settle in and steady the pace. Both teams seemed determined to overcome their nerves and make a statement to get their respective seasons off to a fast start.

The Red Wolves shot 14-for-40 in the first half, going 3-for-6 from three and 4-for-6 from the free-throw line. They were aggressive in getting to the line and forcing Toledo into the bonus for the rest of the quarter, but they couldn’t consistently knock down free throws.

The Red Wolves came out in the second half with momentum. They forced turnovers and steals and made Toledo miss contested jumpers. A-State went on an 8-0 run, up 58-51 with 7:45 to go.

Pannone said his guys stepped up majorly on defense in the second half.

“I think our defensive activity and the hustle plays were key. We talked about it like they’re tired. They’re not used to playing at our pace,” Pannone said. “This is where we’ve got to try to wear them down with our depth and our activity.”

Toledo responded with a huge 9-0 run, cutting the Red Wolves’ lead to 1, 59-60, with 4:35 left in the second half. Toledo knocked down their free throws and got to the line, allowing them to stop the clock and earn free points. The Rockets went 6-for-8 from the free-throw line in the second half, compared to 4-for-6 in the first half.

The final three minutes exploded with intensity as both teams answered each other shot for shot, the scoreboard flipping with every play. Second-chance points and clutch 3-pointers became the difference makers as Toledo finished with 9 and A-State finished with 10. With the Red Wolves trailing by one, Jordan Pyke stepped to the free-throw line, his face set with determination, and calmly sank a shot from the charity stripe to tie the game at 68-68.

On the next possession, Pyke picked the Rockets’ pocket and drove the length of the court for a high-pressure layup that put the Red Wolves ahead 70-68 with just 43 seconds left, sending the arena into a frenzy.

Ouwinga hit a tough jumper to tie the game at 70 with 30 seconds remaining. The key to the Red Wolves’ second-half stops was not only tightening up the perimeter but also getting to the line on offense. Ferguson drove to the basket and got fouled, making one free throw to give the Red Wolves a one-point lead, 71-70, with four seconds remaining. On the inbound pass, Toledo threw the ball the length of the floor, and Rich Barron stole it, giving A-State a 71-70 victory.

Pannone talked about his team persevering throughout the game despite the poor shooting.

“We shot very poorly from the free-throw line and the three-point line, and we found a way to beat a really good team, a really well-coached team,” Pannone said.

The Red Wolves look to add to their win total in their next game at ranked Alabama on Friday, Nov. 6.

Categories: Sports