Courtesy: ArkansasState Martavius Adams led ASU with 14 points against UTEP
EL PASO, Texas. (11/21/09) – The Arkansas State men’s basketball team dropped its first contest of the 2009-10 season at UTEP, 82-56, Saturday night at the Don Haskins Center. Sophomore Martavius Adams led the Red Wolves shooting 7-11 from the floor for 14 points and leading the team with seven rebounds.
UTEP jumped out to a 9-0 lead to get underway on their home floor before Adams scored a jumper for the Red Wolves first points of the contest at the 18:41 mark of the first half.
“UTEP is really talented, athletic and long which is something that we aren’t used to and we need to get used to,” said ASU head coach John Brady. “We had some good moments but we didn’t have enough of them. When you don’t shoot it well you really have a problem, we got on the board 35 times with them although they are bigger and stronger we were able to rebound with them. We had 14 offensive rebounds which is a hustle stat.”
ASU was able to play in the paint with the bigger Miners, being outrebounded by only one (36-35). The Red Wolves were outscored in the paint 46-26.
The Red Wolves cut UTEP’s lead to nine twice after going down by double-figures on a layup by junior Rashad Allison at the 15:28 mark of the first half and by a three-pointer by freshman Brandon Reed at the 12:08 mark of the first half.
UTEP led by 13 at the half (43-30).
Sophomore Daniel Bryant scored 12 pts for ASU playing a season-high 31 minutes off the bench. ASU utilized its bench in the contest outscoring the Miners reserves 21-7.
Reed ranked third on the team with eight points.
ASU had trouble at the line, connecting on just 14-27 shots from the charity stripe.
Arnett Moultre led all players and four UTEP players in double-figures with a career-high 25 points for the Miners.
Freshman Brandon Reed scored seven points and was tied for the lead on the team with seven rebounds and also had two blocks for ASU.
UTEP shot 56 percent from the floor (31-55) while limiting ASU to just 34% shooting (19-56).
“It’s a learning experience for us and we are gong to get better from it, we just need to encourage our guys to keep getting better,” said Brady. “The good thing about basketball is you have to play another one quickly.”
The Red Wolves return home for a three-game home stand which begins with UT Martin on Wednesday. Tipoff at the Convocation Center is set for 7:05 p.m.
Courtesy: ArkansasState
