Terrence Ford started the game and opened scoring with a three-pointer. From there began a first half battle of attrition, with these two in-state foes throwing down battle clubs and hip checks without any consideration for high yield scoring.

The Red Wolves came out with a frenetic energy, banging inside the paint, diving for loose balls, charging into the lane – perhaps looking to acquire Coach Hodgson’s covetedHard Hat points. Derrian Ford was especially effective, lowering his big shoulders to penetrate the paint, getting the hard 2 and leading the team at the half with twelve gritty points.

However, sometimes things unravel: a foul at the three point line, a Red Wolves block that somehow sets up a Trojans three, a trio of Red Wolves fighting for a rebound only to see the ball carom to Little Rock. Grit and grind can be messy, and the Trojans – led by Deanton Gordon – maintained a close proximity on teh scoreboard.

However, a steal and a Dyondre Dominguez slam punctuated the closing seconds of the half, with the Red Wolves taking a 31-27 lead. The mood was good for the Red Wolves!

Second half, everything went to hell. Both Caleb Fields and Terrence Ford emerged from the tunnel injured and were finished for the evening. The Red Wolves responded to this adversity with missed free throws, messy turnovers, and shots launched way off the mark. With eight minutes left in the half, the Red Wolves tailed 60-45.

Arkansas State cut the lead to 10 with 4:42. However, the Red Wolves could not get out of their own way, committing fouls away from the basket and coughing up the ball at terrible times – like getting whistled for traveling on a fast break off a stolen ball. It was ugly, graceless basketball, and the end result was a grisly 77-66 loss to an in-state foe from the Ohio Valley.

Dominguez was the Red Wolves leading scorer, putting up 20 points on 7 for 11 shooting. Derrian Ford chipped in 16 and five board.

Photo Credit: Mine