What kind of a game was Arkansas State versus Georgia Southern? Perviously 0-7 from behind the arc, Izaiyah Nelson nailed his first three as a Red Wolf. Noah “The Closer” McDavid saw some minutes. At halftime, it was 59-40 Red Wolves, with Dominguez leading everyone with 18 points and seven rebounds and the team shooting 93% from the free throw line and 50% from the three. Most telling, the Red Wolves out-rebounded the Eagles 40-29.

“The biggest thing I worked on this week was offensive rebounding, which is something I really wanted to emphasize,” said Derrian Ford, wearing the A-State Hard Hat at the post game presser. Ford finished with seven boards. “He’s too big a guy to average only 3 boards a game,” said Coach Bryan Hodgson. “I challenged him this week, and he responded.”

Things didn’t get much better for the Eagles in the second half. Red Wolves free throw shooting and Rodriguez cooled a bit, but Taryn Todd, Derrian Ford and Avery Felts got sizzling hot, combining for 27 second half points.

According to Kara Richey, the final 109-83 point outcome was the first time Arkansas State has scored 100+ in regulation over a Sun Belt opponent.

Georgia Southern shot well for stretches, led by Eren Banks 15 off the bench. But the Red Wolves were too hot, too smooth, too blue collar! Midway through the second half, the Eagles seemed ready to drown their sorrows in Beautiful Eagle Creek.

“Just really, really proud of this group,” said Coach Bryan Hodgson, “[The team was] really locked in to everything we preached and it shows on the stat sheet.”

Rodriguez led all scorers with 26 points and 12 rebounds, his fourth double double of the year. Tayrn Todd punched in 20, and Ford and Felts deposited 15 apiece. The Red Wolves, who had five players shoot in double figures, shot 57% from the field, including 52% from three.

“Top to bottom, we’re getting better,” said Hodgson.

PHOTO CREDIT: Mine