It was a pass – an assist – between junior guard Lauryn Pendleton and junior guard Izzy Higginbottom signaling that Saturday was going to be a fine day for Arkansas basketball. It came off a fast break, Pendleton streaking across mid court, Higginbottom racing to the top of the key. Pendleton fires a perfect pass into Higginbottom’s hands, and Higginbottom dashed to the board for the layup. It was beautiful basketball between two players employing the telepathy all good teams have.

Pendleton and Higginbottom would combine for 45 points in a convincing 69-58 over historically hated foe Louisiana Tech, who opened the game on an 8-0 run. Coach Destinee Rogers called a time out to calm and adjust, and the result was perhaps the best-played game for A-State women’s basketball this young season.

A half hour after the conclusion of the women’s game, the men welcomed UAB – a KenPom top 50 opponent and 4.5-point favorite. Disrespecting Vegas, The Red Wolves would win by 18, led by the production of Izaiyah Nelson (17 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks) and the grit of Dyondre Dominguez (10 points, 10 rebounds). It wasn’t a rebound or a bucket that underscored Dominguez’s game performance; it was a charge he took in the second half, a self sacrifice that inspired the team.

Point guard Caleb Fields, injured during the loss at UA Little Rock, was only 4/11 in the field but it seemed that Fields was determined that UAB pay a steep physical price with every missed shot, plunging his body into the paint, caroming towards the boards and forcing the Blazers to choose between pain or surrendering points.

The Red Wolves won 87-68 on blistering 51% shooting, including 43% from three point range and 100% from alley-oop range. Better still, Arkansas State played capable defense, forcing UAB into long scoring droughts and reducing the three-point damage to just six made shots out of 24. The Red Wolves played the blue collar style Coach Bryan Hodgson wanted to see – drawing fouls, hitting free throws, putting up some defense, and forcing turnovers.

The most astonishing stat of the game? The Red Wolves comited just five turnovers (while forcing 13). Just five!

In every facet, Saturday was the best day of basketball for the Arkansas State Red Wolves this season. Let us hope that everybody heard the click.

Photo Credit: Me