JONESBORO, Ark. – The Arkansas State University men’s basketball team suffered a tough 82-65 loss to UT Martin on Tuesday night at First National Bank Arena. The Red Wolves now hold a 1-2 record on the season, matching the 1-2 record of the visiting Skyhawks.
A-State struggled offensively, shooting just 31% overall (22-of-71) and 22.9% from three-point range (8-of-35). In contrast, UT Martin shot 45% from the field (29-of-64) and capitalized on 36% of their attempts from beyond the arc (9-of-25).
Red Wolves guard Layne Taylor led the team in scoring, contributing 18 points alongside six rebounds and five assists. Teammate Aaron McGee added 15 points off the bench. However, it was UT Martin's Davi Remagen who stood out, scoring 30 points on efficient 10-of-16 shooting.
The opening minutes of the game saw the teams trading baskets, tied at 13 apiece with 13:43 left in the first half. Following a jumper by Taylor to even the score, the momentum shifted dramatically in UT Martin’s favor. The Skyhawks went on a dominant 33-11 run across the next 10 minutes, opening up a 46-24 lead. Arkansas State managed to trim the deficit slightly with a five-point spurt late in the half, but UT Martin entered halftime firmly ahead, 54-34.
The second half saw the Red Wolves push back, narrowing the deficit to 57-47 with 15:43 remaining after a 12-1 run. However, the Skyhawks quickly reasserted control with a 10-3 surge, maintaining a comfortable lead for the remainder of the game. A-State never got closer than 15 points in the closing stretch.
Rebounding played a significant role in the game’s outcome. UT Martin outrebounded Arkansas State 54-40 and held a 19-14 advantage in second-chance points. Despite A-State grabbing a slim 20-19 edge in offensive boards, UT Martin excelled inside the paint, outscoring the Red Wolves 34-22.
Turnovers were relatively low for both teams, with Arkansas State committing just 10 compared to UT Martin’s 16. However, the Skyhawks capitalized more effectively on miscues, converting A-State's turnovers into 20 points while the Red Wolves managed 22 points off turnovers.
The Red Wolves will look to bounce back as they continue their homestand on Saturday, facing Dillard University at 7:00 p.m. The game will be streamed on ESPN+ and broadcast on the EAB Red Wolves Sports Network and Red Wolves mobile app.