In-State Tuneup for Big In-State Rivalry As Red Wolves Handle Scots

JONESBORO, Ark. – For the third game in a row, the Arkansas State University men’s basketball team came out on top as the Red Wolves limited the Lyon College Scots to a school-record 15 second-half points en route to a decisive 65-39 non-conference victory this Tuesday night at the Convocation Center in Jonesboro, Ark.

The Red Wolves set a school single-game record for the fewest second-half points allowed by holding Lyon College to 15 in the second frame.  The 1995-96 A-State squad held the mark as Texas-Pan American scored only 18 second-half points in a Red Wolves’ 46-38 home decision on Feb. 8, 1996.

Senior guard Brandon Reed earned game-high scoring honors with 16 points, which consisted of 5-7 shooting from the floor and 4-4 at the free throw line to go with two three-pointers.  Senior guard Ed Townsel scored in double digits for the third time in his last four games with 14 points, highlighted by six-of-nine shooting from the floor.  Senior forwards Kirk Van Slyke and Kendrick Washingtonrecorded 11 points each for A-State, which made 42.6 percent (23-54) of its field goals in the contest.

“We weren’t real sharp offensively tonight and not aggressive as we have been,” said A-State head coach John Brady.  “I was pleased with our second half and they forced us to guard tonight which was good work for us.  Give credit to Lyon for how they played us and made us defend for extended periods of time.

“I’m glad that team (Lyon) played like it did because it will prepare us for this Saturday’s game against UALR,” added Brady.

A-State, which held a 31-24 advantage at intermission, was able to increase its margin to double figures less than three minutes into the second half and would proceed to take a 23-point lead, 50-27, with 11:26 left to be played as Kirk Van Slyke converted a three-point play.  The Red Wolves built their largest lead of the half with just under five minutes remaining at 31 points, 60-29, following a three-ball from Melvin Johnson III.  From there, A-State finished out the game’s final stretch holding no less than a 26-point cushion.

The opening 20 minutes of play, which featured six ties and lead changes apiece, started with A-State leading just under five minutes into the contest before the Scots tied the game.  The teams exchanged leads over the next seven minutes before the Red Wolves snapped a 21-all tie on a Brandon Reed layup with 6:48 remaining in the first stanza.  A-State was down by a deuce, 21-19, at the nine-minute mark before reeling off 12 unanswered points in five minutes to claim a 31-21 advantage with 4:05 on the clock.  Reed’s bucket would ignite eight-point spurt during the Red Wolves’ scoring surge.  Lyon’s Riley Jenkins, who had 15 points (5-9 three’s) at the break, drained a three pointer with 1:43 left to account for the final points in the opening half.  For A-State, Brandon Reed netted 12 points in as many minutes with a five-for-six shooting performance in the stanza.  Both teams connected on 42.9 percent in the first half as A-State went 12-of-28 from the floor and Lyon made good on nine-of-21 attempts.

A-State would conclude the contest shooting 35 percent (7-20) in three pointers and hit on 12-of-19 free throws (63.2 percent) while the Red Wolves’ defense forced 16 turnovers.  The Scots made 35.7 percent (15-42) of their field goal attempts, but went to the free throw line only eight times and converted three times for a 37.5 percent success rate.  On the glass, A-State outrebounded the visitors by a 35-30 margin as Kirk Van Slyke’s six caroms was a team high and sophomore forward Kelvin Downs pulled down five boards.

Guard Riley Jenkins’ 15 points paced Lyon College, who was playing in its second straight game in as many nights.  Center Ben Worlow notched a pair of sevens in points and rebounds.  The Scots had their four-game winning string come to an end and even their overall record to 15-15 as a result of the setback.

The win represented the fifth home win a row for A-State, which is now 10-2 at home this season.  The Red Wolves also ended up 8-4 in non-conference competition for the 2013-14 campaign.  Individually, Ed Townsel’s 14 points vaulted the backcourt standout into 20thplace among A-State’s all-time points leaders and his 1,097 career points total to date is one shy of tying Brandon Peterson (2009-13) for 19th place.

NAIA athletic programs usually play NCAA Division I opponents in what is commonly called ‘money games’ because the smaller school are paid to come visit the larger institution. This year the Lyon College men’s basketball team was 1-1 in those contests. After defeating Grambling State University earlier this season, the Scots visited the Convocation Center Tuesday night and dropped a 65-39 exhibition contest to Arkansas State University.

The game doesn’t count on the Scots’ record or season statistics because it was an exhibition contest. It is merely a fund raiser for the program and an opportunity for players to test their skills against NCAA opponents.

Lyon College first-year head coach Chad Tapp played nine of his 10 players against the Red Wolves. The Scots caused some problems for A-State, but it was the problems on the offensive end that were the difference in the contest. But the end result wasn’t nearly as bad as the last time these two teams met, a 108-61 win for ASU in 2011.

The Red Wolves (17-9), who now lead the overall series with Lyon 36-17 and have won the last 11 meetings, did struggle in some areas. ASU hit only 42.7% (23-of-54) from the field and only 35% (7-of-20) of its three-pointers. The Red Wolves also struggled at the line, converting only 12-of-19 (63.2%).

But where Arkansas State held the advantage was in the fact that the Red Wolves only turned the ball over eight times, compared to 16 for the Scots. ASU scored 25 points off turnovers. 

The Scots were also outrebounded 35-30 and hit only 35.7% (15-of-42) from the field and 35.3% (6-of-17) of their three-pointers. Lyon is currently the No. 1 NAIA team in the nation in three-point field goal percentage (44.2%), No. 2 in total rebounds allowed per game (28.7) and points allowed per contest (61.6).

Only one Lyon College player scored in double figures. Sophomore Riley Jenkins (Norwood, Mo.) hit 5-of-10 of his three-point attempts to finish as the team’s high scorer and the games’ second-highest scorer with 15 points. Ben Worlow (Mountain Home, Ark.) chipped in seven points and pulled down a game-high seven boards. Senior Jordan Layrock (Paragould, Ark.), who was playing in his ‘back yard’ to his home town, finished with six points, while blocking one shot and tallying two rebounds. Filip Gijanicic (Belgrade, Serbia) also had six points.

The Red Wolves placed four players in double figures, led by Brandon Reed’s 16 points. Ed Townsel added 14 and Kirk Van Slyke and Kendrick Washington each chipped in 11.

Lyon College kept the game close for the first 20 minutes, only trailing 31-24 at the break. The Red Wolves jumped out to a quick 7-2 lead with less than two and one-half minutes gone, but the Scots fought back to take a 12-10 lead on a Gijanicic layup with 12:37 left in the opening period.

The Scots led two more times in the first half, the final time with 9:01 left when Gijanicic scored in the paint to put Lyon ahead 21-19. But the Wolves finished the first half with a 12-3 run to take a seven-point lead into the locker room at the break.

Arkansas State was able to open up a lead in the first half by outscoring Lyon 15-0 on points-off-turnovers, and that continued in the second half. The Scots also went cold in the final period as the Red Wolves outscored Lyon 29-5 in the first 15:03 of the final half to grab a 60-29 lead. The Scots never recovered.

Lyon College can now turn its attention back on the American Midwest Conference race. With a bye for its final regular season date on Saturday, the Scots will close the regular season on Thursday at Mid-Continent University (6-22, 6-12 AMC) at 7:30 p.m. A Lyon win or a Park University (14-11, 12-6 AMC) loss in one of its final two games (at Missouri Baptist or at home against Hannibal-LaGrange) will give the third seed in the upcoming AMC Postseason Tournament to Lyon.

The Scots have already clinched a home game in the league’s tournament, and will play a quarterfinal contest on Thursday, May 6, at 7 p.m.

A-State returns to Sun Belt Conference (SBC) action this Saturday (March 1) night as the Red Wolves square off against instate rival UALR in Little Rock, Ark.  The game, which represents A-State’s final regular-season road appearance for the 2013-14 season, starts at 7 p.m. (CT) from UALR’s Jack Stephens Center and can be heard live on the EAB Red Wolves Sports Radio Network per flagship KFIN 107.9 FM as Matt Stolz calls the action.

Courtesy Lyon College and Arkansas State Department of Athletics