JONESBORO, Ark. (1/19/15) – The Arkansas State men's basketball team had three players score in double figures and got a double-double from sophomore forward Anthony Livingston, but dropped a tightly-contested Sun Belt Conference game against Georgia State Monday night at the Convocation Center by a 60-54 score.
Posting a 29 percent field-goal percentage, the Red Wolves (8-9, 3-5) fought through a sluggish shooting performance to put themselves in position to win late in the contest. A-State had to play from behind most of the night, claiming its only lead when junior guard Sean Gardner hit a three that made the score 34-33 with 14:36 left in the second half.
At the same time, the Red Wolves capitalized at the free throw line by hitting 19-of-23 attempts while also limiting Georgia State (12-7, 5-3) to season low 36 percent field-goal percentage. Following Gardner's three-point shot, the Panthers retook the lead on their next possession with a tip-in by Markus Crider.
Crider's rebound and put-back started an 11-1 run by Georgia State that wasn't stopped until Livingston, who was responsible for a team-best 20 points and game-high 13 rebounds, hit a pair of free throws that cut A-State's deficit to 44-37.
Gardner hit a jumper with 4:34 left in the game that pulled Arkansas State within 47-45. Most of the final four minutes were a one-possession game with Georgia State holding anywhere from a one-to-three-point lead. Still down just 57-54 with 29 seconds remaining, A-State missed a three and was forced to foul Crider, who then hit 1-of-2 free throws to make it a two-possession game.
The Red Wolves missed a three on their next possession and R.J. Hunter set the final score with a pair of free throws. Hunter was instrumental in the victory, scoring 14 of their final 15 points to end the night with a game-high 23 points.
Livingston posted his eighth double-double of the season to lead the Red Wolves. He was joined in double figures by Gardner with 19 points and Golden with 10. Sophomore guard P.J. Hardwick dished out a game-high seven assists to add to his Sun Belt Conference-leading total.
Georgia State was able to build a 29-19 lead, their largest of the game with 3:45 left in the first half, but A-State scored the final eight points of the half to go into the break down just 29-27.
Arkansas State returns to action Thursday, Jan. 22, at Louisiana-Lafayette in a 7:15 p.m. game.
