With about six and half minutes left in the second half, a LaQuill Hardnett layup opened up a 13 point lead over visiting Southern Miss. The Red Wolves were all grins and giggles, basking in the approval of the A-State faithful while cruising to a revenge win over a dangerous conference foe.

Two minutes later, a layup from the Golden Eagles’ talented guard Austin Crowley capped a 10-0 run from Southern Miss, narrowing the gap to just three points. The momentum had radically shifted to the guests. Too fresh memories of A-State’s 16-point lead collapse against ULM seeped to the surface of A-State’s collective consciousness. With Izaiyah Nelson in foul trouble and Dyondre Dominguez barely able to stand on a dinged ankle, it didn’t appear that Coach Bryan Hodgson had the firepower to hold off the Golden Eagles’ assault.

Never tell Arkansas State the odds. The Red Wolves held Southern Miss without a bucket for the remainder of the game, with Darrian Ford sealing the outcome with a pair of made free throws (punctuated by a Caleb Fields lay up). Final score: Red Wolves 78, Golden Eagles 71.

Coach Bryan Hodgson awarded the “Hard Hat” to Nelson, who delivered three blocked shots and secured a double-double with 11 points and and team leading 12 rebounds. But he could have handed it to Dominguez, who provided gritty minutes on just one ankle. Or he could have presented it to the game’s points leader, Caleb Fields, who put up 27 on the scoreboard. Darrian Ford was also a worthy candidate – the beefy Ford supplied 13 points and 10 rebounds, building on his double-double performance against the Warhawks. There was lots to like.

Of course, there were also issues one may not like so much. Once again, the Red Wolves struggled at the free throw line, converting just 13 of 20 attempts. The Red Wolves turned over the ball nine times to Southern Miss’ four. Additionally, injuries continue to plague the roster. Defensive and offensive weapon Freddy Hicks Jr. didn’t suit up for the game, and Dominguez (the team leader in points and rebounds) was only able to endure 12 minutes of court time.

However, a great deal can be said for a team overcoming these obstacles. Ford made his pressure freebies (he finished hitting 3 of four). The defense closed the opposing rim when it mattered most. The Fearless Fields, with his team dinged and needing him on the court, played a game high 36 minutes. The Red Wolves could have seen Hicks and Nelson (fouls) on the bench, noted the physical ailments of Dominguez and chosen to surrendered to the Southern Miss surge.

Bryan Hodgson and the team chose victory.

Do the Red Wolves continue to tap into this internal toughness to close out the remainder of the season? The Warhawks arrive to Jonesboro on Saturday, offering plenty of incentive for the Red Wolves to inflict more vengeance. The memory of that wasted 16 point lead will still be fresh and painful.

A win would go far in soothing such wounds.

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