JONESBORO, Ark.?Arkansas State snapped a four-game losing streak on Wednesday by defeating Arkansas-Pine Bluff, 69-60, in a game that was closer than expected.
Jim Jones scored a game-high 18 points and grabbed eight boards to help the Indians (5-8) stave off the upset bid by the Golden Lions (3-5). The win kept ASU's record a perfect 5-0 against UAPB, but the win didn't come easy.
ASU's lead was just six at 58-52 with 7:44 left in the game after UAPB's William Byrd connected on a pair of free throws. By that point, the Indians were mired in a stretch of scoring just eight points over an eight minute period to allow UAPB to hang around in the game.
But ASU's Jones hit a layup with 6:13 left to play that snapped the scoring drought for the Tribe and closed out the game hitting free throws down the stretch to claim the victory.
Jones and Isaac Wells supplied the points and rebounds needed for ASU to claim the win, but it was Dereke Tipler's spark off the bench in the second half that inspired a better defensive effort.
Leading 37-32 at the half, the Indians came out flat to start the second half as UAPB quickly sliced the ASU lead to one, 37-36, after a Phillip Brooks layup. Head coach Dickey Nutt inserted a hobbled Tipler into the lineup and instantly provided a spark.
Marcus Ardison started the spurt with a layup at the 18:24 mark in the second to push ASU's lead back to three. Jones followed with a steal and dunk just 19 seconds later. The lead would jump back to 10 at 50-40 with 14:32 left in the second half.
But it was all keyed by Tipler and his active play on both sides of the court. Tipler was credited with three steals, all in the second half, and sparked ASU's defense to 10 steals on the night, eight coming in the second half. Jones finished with a game-high five steals, four in the second half.
Wells carried the ASU offense in the first half by scoring 11 of his 15 points in the opening half. Wells followed ended the night with his second career double-double, grabbing 10 rebounds to go with his 15 points.
As a team the Indians out rebounded the Golden Lions 47-36, helping to offset a tough shooting night by the Tribe. For the game, ASU shot just 36.2 percent from the floor and turned the ball over 18 times.
The win by ASU was needed after losing two straight at home and four straight overall. The win was the first over a Division 1 opponent at home this season and was the closest margin of victory for ASU over UAPB in the brief series history.
Next up for the Tribe is a trip to Stillwater, Okla., to face the Cowyboys in the final non-conference prior to starting Sun Belt play in January. ASU will have one more non-conference tilt against a foe to be determined as part of the ESPN BracketBuster series. Match-ups for that game will be announced at the end of January.
