Red Wolves Battle Back and Force Overtime But Fall At Austin Peay

Men's Basketball 1/19/2012 10:35:00 PM ArkansasState

Slow Second Half Gives MTSU Win Over Red Wolves

MURFREESBORO, Tenn. (1/19/12) – Arkansas State put up quite a fight but struggled to score in the second half, ultimately falling at Middle Tennessee 59-46 in Sun Belt Conference action Thursday night at the Murphy Center.

Junior guard Marcus Hooten led all players with 15 points. The Red Wolves shot 45.5% from the floor (10-23) in the first half but fell to 5-23 (21.7%) in the second. The Red Wolves were 13-22 from the free throw line (59.1%) in the game.

“Our effort and our guarding of them was excellent, our game plan to guard them was excellent. Our defensive game plan our players carried out was excellent,” said ASU head coach John Brady. “But at some point you have to manufacture a basket or two.”

A-State led the contest through most of the first half, but MTSU went on a 12-2 run to take a 24-14 advantage when James Gallman hit a three for the Blue Raiders. ASU answered with a 12-0 run of its own recapturing the lead when Trey Finn drained a three on a fast break. Hooten had nine points during that run.

The game was tied one more time before a three by MTSU's Kerry Hammonds set the final halftime score, 31-28. Hooten led everyone at the half with nine points.

A layup by Kirkland just 3:!1 into the second half gave the Red Wolves a 35-34 lead, but just a minute and a half later MTSU answered to re-take the lead, which it never relinquished.

MTSU slowly added onto the score, taking a double-digit lead with 3:24 left in the game, 54-43. ASU would get the lead back to 10 when Hooten hit a three with 1:55 left (56-46) but were unable to get any closer.

ASU was outrebounded in the contest 29-35 and outscored in the paint 18-26. Peterson led all players on the floor with 10 rebounds. Along with Hooten's 15, Malcoln Kirkland added 12 and Trey Finn added 11.

Kerry Hammonds came off the Bench to lead the Blue Raiders going 5-7 from the floor and 3-5 from three-point range scoring 13.

ASU returns to action Saturday when they host the Ragin' Cajuns of Louisiana. Tipoff time at the Convocation Center is set for 7:05 p.m.

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