Men’s Basketball Game Notes – ASU vs. South Alabama

Courtesy Arkansas State University Athletics Department

Tip Off: The Arkansas State University men’s basketball team continues its current home stand this Thursday (Jan. 31) as the Red Wolves host the South Alabama Jaguars in a Sun Belt Conference (SBC) tilt at the ASU Convocation Center in Jonesboro, Ark. A 7:05 p.m. (CT) start is scheduled for the second and final 2012-13 regular-season meeting between the two teams.

2012-13 A-StAte Ticket Information: Individual single-game ticket prices for the 2012-13 ASU men’s basketball season are $12 for the upper center area, $10 for the upper side, $8 for the upper wings, $6 for children and senior citizens (age 55+), and $5 group rate purchase of 12 tickets or more. Tickets may be purchased through the ASU Box Office by calling 870-972-2781 or 888-ASU-FANS. Ticket information for the 2012-13 season is also available on ASU Athletics official website – www.AStateRedWolves.com.

The Records: Arkansas State (12-8, 6-5 Sun Belt West Division). The Red Wolves have won two of their last three following a 63-38 conference home victory over Florida Atlantic last Saturday (1/26) at the ASU Convocation Center in Jonesboro, Ark. This season, ASU is 9-2 at home, 3-6 on the road, and 0-0 at neutral sites.

South Alabama (11-8, 8-3 Sun Belt East Division). The Jaguars extended their current winning streak to three with a 60-58 conference home decision over FIU last Saturday (1/26) at USA’s Mitchell Center in Mobile, Ala. USA, which has won four of its last five outings, is 5-3 on the road, 6-3 at home, and 0-2 at neutral sites this season.

The Coaches: Arkansas State – John Brady (Bellhaven, 1976), 5th season, 73-74 (.497); Career – 354-290 (.549) – (4-3 vs. USA). Brady was named the 2009-10 SBC Coach of the Year and the District VII Coach of the Year by the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA). He served six seasons (1991-97) as head coach at Samford and then spent 10-plus seasons (1997-08) in a head coaching capacity at LSU. Brady guided LSU to two SEC Championship titles along with four NCAA Tournament appearances, which included a Final Four appearance in the 2005-06 season. 

South Alabama – (Interim) Jeff Price (Pikeville College, 1981), 1st season, 6-3 (.667); Career: 18th season, 299-189 (.613) – (0-1 vs. ASU). Price was named to his current position in December 2012 after serving as USA’s associate head coach since August 2011. Price was an assistant and the program’s recruiting coordinator at South Alabama from 1989-93 and served as head coach at NCAA Division II West Virginia Wesleyan in the 2010-11 campaign. Prior to WVWC, he was a scout for the Los Angeles Clippers. Price spent six seasons (1993-99) as Division II Lynn’s (Fla) first-ever head coach before going to Georgia Southern where he earned 1999-00 Southern Conference Coach of the Year recognition. He also made stops at his alma mater, Pikeville (Ky.) College (1981-82), Georgia Southern (1982-83, 1986-87), Union (Ky.) College (1983-85), and Washington (1985-86, 1987-89).   

About South Alabama: The Jaguars claimed their third straight victory with a 60-58 home conference win over FIU last Saturday (1/26) at USA’s Mitchell Center in Mobile, Ala. USA had three players reach double-figure scoring led by junior forward Augustine Rubit, who tallied game highs in points (13) and rebounds (12). Junior guard Antoine Allen scored 11 points and freshman guard Barrington Stevens had 10 points in the win. 

• Augustine Rubit (19.1 ppg. & 10.9 rpg.) and sophomore guard-forward Mychal Ammons (10.9 ppg. & 7.2 rpg.) are both the Jaguars’ top scoring and rebounding leaders this season. Senior forward Javier Carter leads USA in blocked shots with 38 total to go with a 6.1 rpg. average. 

• Nationally through games of Jan. 27, South Alabama ranks 45th in blocked shots (4.8 bpg.) while the Jaguars are 100th in rebound margin (3.3), 111th in steals (7.5 spg.), 119th in scoring offense (69.8 ppg.), 142nd in three-point field goals (6.4 avg.), 144th in both three-point field goal percentage (34.2%) and free throw percentage (69.7%), 164th in in scoring margin (2.1), 211th in scoring defense (67.7 ppg.), and 258th in field-goal percentage (41.4%). Individually, Augustine Rubit ranks ninth in both double-doubles (11) and rebounds (10.9 rpg.), 27th in points (19.1 ppg.), 84th in field-goal percentage (50%), and 129th in blocked shots (1.47 rpg.). Javier Carter is 49th in blocked shots (2.11 bpg.) while Mychal Ammons ranks 175th in double-doubles (three) and 180th in rebounds (7.2 rpg.).

All-Time Series: Arkansas State has an 18-17 edge in the all-time series which began in the 1970-71 season with South Alabama posting a 69-59 win (12/7/70). ASU is 12-4 at home, 5-13 on the road, and 1-0 at neutral sites. 

• The Red Wolves are averaging 68.3 ppg. (2,390 pts.) in the series while the Jaguars have averaged 68.9 ppg. (2,413 pts.) in the 35 matchups between the two schools.

• ASU is 3-2 in the last five meetings, which includes a 63-54 victory at South Alabama earlier this season (12/29). A-State is averaging 65.0 points per game (325 pts.) to USA’s 64.4 points a contest (322 pts.) in those five encounters.

• Six of the last 10 games have been decided by 10 points or more, which includes two of the last three.

• The Red Wolves are 9-11 in contests decided by 10 points or more and 9-6 when the points margin is less.

• ASU is 3-2 at home versus South Alabama in the last five matchups with four of those games being determined by at least 10 points. The Red Wolves are 3-1 in such encounters.

• Ed Townsel (11.0 ppg.), Trey Finn (8.8 ppg.), and Brandon Peterson (7.8 ppg.) are ASU’s top active career scorers versus South Alabama while Finn (6.3 rpg.) and Kendrick Washington (6.0 rpg.) lead in rebounding. 

In The Sun Belt Conference: The Red Wolves are 177-178 (.499) since joining the Sun Belt Conference (SBC) in the 1991-92 season, which includes a season-best 14-4 (.778) mark in the 1997-98 campaign.

• A-State sports a 40-18 (.689) record at home and is 15-17 (.469) on the road since the 2006-07 season.

• ASU head coach John Brady has registered a 39-40 record (.494) in Sun Belt Conference contests since his arrival in the 2008-09 season, which consists of a 28-10 home ledger and a 10-29 away mark.

• The Red Wolves are presently 30-24 (.556) in January conference games dating back to 2006-07 – 23-7 at home and 7-17 on the road.

1,000-Point Member: Senior forward Brandon Peterson tallied his 1,000th career point in last Saturday’s (1/26) win over Florida Atlantic on a layup with 1:47 left in the game. Peterson, who scored a game-high 15 points in the ASU victory, became the 25th individual to attain the significant scoring milestone and the second A-State player to do so this campaign. Senior guard Trey Finn reached the 1,000-points mark two weeks ago against ULM (1/19) on a game-high 17 points performance.

Double Vision: Brandon Peterson recorded his career-best eighth double-double of this season with game highs in both points (15) and rebounds (10) versus Florida Atlantic (1/26). Peterson has currently chalked up 17 career double-doubles in 116 contests. He compiled five in the 2011-12 campaign after notching two apiece in the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons.

Just One More: Trey Finn is one point away from moving into a 22nd-place tie on ASU’s all-time scoring leaders list with Jay Hansen (1980-84; 1,025 career pts.). Finn, who has tallied a current 1,024-career points total in 110 contests, is also 10 points shy of matching Isaac Wells’ (2005-07) 1,034 career points for 21st place. 

For Pete’s Sake: Brandon Peterson presently ranks 10th among A-State’s career rebounding leaders chart with 777 boards and is 23 caroms shy of reaching the 800-career mark. Peterson has accumulated a squad-leading 192 rebounds in 20 contests to date this season, is just five rebounds shy of equaling Fred Shepherd’s (1989-93; 782 career rebs.) for eighth-place honors. Peterson would become the eighth A-State player to amass 800 career rebounds.

Getting Defensive: A-State’s 38 points allowed in its 63-38 home league triumph over Florida Atlantic (1/26) represented a team single-season best, bettering the 39 points scored by ULM (1/19) in a 63-39 loss at ASU. The 38 points scored by Florida Atlantic was three points shy of tying an ASU Convocation Center record for fewest points (35) scored by an opponent. The Red Wolves claimed a 60-35 home decision over Denver (2/5/11) in the 2010-11 campaign.

Finn-tastic: Trey Finn, who has presently hauled in 614 career rebounds in 109 games, is 13 boards shy of occupying a share of 13th place with Gaylon Ward (1960-62; 627 career rebs.) on ASU’s all-time rebounding leaders list. This season, Finn has secured team second-most 92 boards in 19 games.

Lockdown Defense: ASU has limited its opponent to 53.0 points per game (212 pts.) in its last four contests after allowing 60.3 points a game (241 pts.) in the squad’s previous four outings. The Red Wolves are averaging 62.2 points per game (249 pts.) in their last four encounters compared to 67.0 points an outing (268 pts.) in their four prior appearances.

Three In A Row: Brandon Peterson has presently recorded a double-double in his last three outings while averaging 13.7 points per game (41 pts.) and 11.3 rebounds an outing (34 rebs.) during that span. Peterson began the streak with 11 points and 12 boards against ULM (1/19) before tallying 15 points with 12 rebounds at Troy (1/24). He chalked up 15 points and grabbed 10 boards versus Florida Atlantic (1/26) in his most recent contest. 

Red Wolf Howlings: Seven of ASU’s nine home victories this campaign have been by double digits, which included five by at least 15 points or more … Ed Townsel’s 125 steals is five shy of matching Bo Brown (1987-89; 130 career steals) for seventh place among A-State’s career leaders … Rakeem Dickerson’s 43 rebounds in 20 games equals his 43 boards in 32 contests last season … Ed Townsel is three field goals made from tying his season-best 104 field goals in 34 2011-12 outings … Trey Finn is six assists shy of recording his 200th career helper … Trey Finn is eight rebounds away from garnering his 100th carom of this season … The Red Wolves’ 12 assists this campaign represents the 13th time in which ASU has tallied double figures … ASU’s top two steals leaders – Ed Townsel (40 total) and Rakeem Dickerson (34 total) have accounted for 38.3% (74-193) of the team’s production this season.

Warming Trend: Trey Finn has currently notched double-figure scoring in five of his last six contests to date as a result of tallying 11 points against Florida Atlantic (1/26). Finn is averaging 12.5 points per game (75 pts.) during the six-game span (1/5-26). He averaged 6.2 points a contest (37 pts.) in his prior six games (12/16-1/3).

National Stats Leaders: The Red Wolves rank 12th among the NCAA Division I national statistical leaders in steals (9.7 spg.) and are 15th in turnover margin (4.1) through games of Jan. 27. ASU is 90th in scoring margin (6.0), 96th in scoring defense (62.8 ppg.), 143rd in scoring offense (68.8 ppg.), 148th in three-point field goals (6.4 avg.), 155th in three-point field goal defense (32.9%), 165th in field goal percentage defense (42.2%), 251st in three-point field goal percentage (30.9%), and 274th in field goal percentage (41.1%). Individually, Brandon Peterson ranks 21st in both rebounds (9.6 rpg.) and double-doubles (eight) along with 226th in blocked shots (1.15 bpg.). Ed Townsel is 53rd in three-point field goals (2.6 avg.), 55th in steals (2.0 spg.), 60th in three-point field goal percentage (35.6%), and 213th in points (14.8 ppg.). Sophomore guard Rakeem Dickerson ranks 156th in steals (1.7 spg.). 

2012-13 Reference Guide Now Online: The 2012-13 A-State men’s basketball reference guide is now available to view online in a PDF format and contains information for all devoted Red Wolves fans. The 110-page publication features such information as 2012-13 student-athlete rosters, season preview, student-athlete biographies, coaching staff bios, 2011-12 season statistics, and all-time series records along with career, season, and game statistical records. The annual publication is a production of the ASU Sports Information Office under the direction of director Jerry Scott along with assistant directors Chris Graddy and Joe Gorby. To view the 2012-13 ASU men’s basketball publication online, please visit the respective link – 2012-13 Arkansas State Men’s Basketball Reference Guide.

A Season Ago: A-State concluded the 2011-12 campaign at 14-20 overall and posted a fifth-place 6-10 mark in the Sun Belt Conference’s (SBC) West Division. The Red Wolves were 10-5 at home, 2-14 on the road, and 2-1 at neutral sites a season ago. 

2012-13 ASU Basketball Promotions: The ASU Athletics Marketing Department will feature special promotions for each remaining 2012-13 Red Wolves’ home basketball game. Click on this link to view promotion schedule.

2013 SBC Basketball Tourney Tickets On Sale: Tickets for the 2013 Sun Belt Conference Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament to be held March 8-11 at the Summit Arena in Hot Springs, Ark., are now on sale. Tickets are on sale for $93 per booklet. Each booklet includes a ticket to each session for both the men’s and women’s games covering all four days. If you are interested in reserving your seats to the 2013 Sun Belt Conference Tournament, please call the ASU Box Office at (870) 972-2781, or you may order your tickets online at www.tickets.astate.edu. Hotel packages can be reserved by calling (501) 624-5521. 

Up Next: A-State concludes its three-game Sun Belt Conference home stand this Saturday (Feb. 2) evening as the Red Wolves host the North Texas Mean Green at the ASU Convocation Center in Jonesboro, Ark. The contest is slated for a 7:05 p.m. (CT) start time in what represents this season’s initial meeting between the conference divisional foes.