Seven and a half minutes into the game, the Bobcats had a ten point lead and Texas State appeared motivated to hand Arkansas State a serving of humble pie. Just four minutes later, Taryn Todd nailed a three pointer at that was the end for whatever coup the Bobcats were planning.

A couple days before, the Red Wolves were in Hattiesburg allowing DeAntoni Gordon, a 6’7″ senior who averages 9 points per game, to enjoy a nice 22 point performance. This tomfoolery was allowed to last until three minutes deep into the second quarter when Joe Pinion knocked down a pair of freebies to secure the lead for good. The lesson: don’t ever believe you have cooked the Red Wolves.

Before visiting Kent State for Part 2 of the MAC Challenge, the Red Wolves visit Marshall on Wednesday for an ESPNU donnybrook with Marshall, currently among four Sun Belt programs boasting a 7-4 record. That doesn’t make the Thundering Herd a cookie-cutter opponent. Marshall is led in points and block shots by 6’8″ senior Obinna Anochili-Killen, one of those rare guys who still plays with the team that originally signed him. Anochili-Killen is one of four Herders averaging double digits – Mikal Dawson, Dezayne Mingo and Jalen Speer. Mingo had 18 points for the Herd against Coastal, a bounce back victory after a loss to Georgia State.

It’s losses like the one to Georgia State that make the Herd a Rubik’s Cube. They opened the conference with a loss to Southern Miss, then followed that up with a defeat to Elon before righting the ship against Texas State. Basketball has a way of catching you off guard at the wrong time, and perhaps that’s what happened to head coach Corny Jackson and his Herd Who Thunders.

On Saturday, it’s off to Ohio for a game that won’t do much good or harm for the Red Wolves. The MAC / Sun Belt Challenge was created to boost NET scores for the better teams in both conferences. However, it’s a down year for the MAC, too, with 13-8 Kent State bearing a 151 NET (which is a least better than Marshall’s 193). So what’s the point?

The Rivalry of Man! That’s the point, brutha! Besides, the Golden Flashes defeated Louisiana earlier this year and nobody beats the Cajuns without our permission. The Flashes are led by the immortally monikered VonCameron Davis, a 6’5″ senior forward who averages 15 points per contest (plus 4 rebounds for good measure).

Additionally, the Flashes have 6’9″ center Cli’Ron Hornbeak to give you problems beneath the rim. Working against Kent State, Morgan Safford, a 6’6″ senior who make a nice combo with Davis. But Safford hasn’t seen the floor since early December.

Photo by Carla Wehmeyer – Arkansas State