UTM Men’s Basketball took on Arkansas State University on Friday, Nov. 16 with a final score of 77 Red Wolves, 73Skyhawks.
“Like I said after the last game, it’s in there, good basketball is in there,” said Men’s Basketball Head Coach, Jason James.
The Skyhawks played the game with both a strong offense and defense throughout. UTM made a quick rebound early in the game to begin the scoring. Red Wolves returned with a quick two-point goal to tie the game early on. This started a pattern early on that would be seen throughout the game.
The Skyhawks came into the game with full force on both offense and defense, with three-point field goals from both Bobby Jones and Justin Childs. Skyhawks gained extra points on three of the six foul shots they attempted within the first five minutes of the game.
UTM’s strong defense throughout the first half enabled a seven time lead change as the Skyhawks fought hard to continually regain the lead. Unfortunately, by the end of the first half, the Skyhawks were trailing 28 to 32.
This however did not discourage them from returning to the court strong in the second half. Like the first half, UTMstarted off the scoring by making two goals from a personal foul called against ASU.
Myles Taylor sunk a three-point goal early in the second half to tie the game. The Skyhawk defense was on point throughout the entire second half preventing the Red Wolves from making several attempted goals. Taylor, along with Childs, had several big plays throughout the second half.
With 36.2 seconds left in the second half, UTM blocked a shot by ASU and gained control of the ball. Taylor fouled an ASU player and the Skyhawks then trailed by 2. With less than 10 seconds left on the clock, Jeremy Washington, with an assist by Justin Childs, sunk a two-point shot to tie the game. With this goal, the game was sent into the first of three overtimes.
ASU scored the first points in the first overtime. However, with a three-point goal by Childs, UTM gained their first lead in the first overtime. UTM made two more two-pointers and with 19.1 seconds left in the first overtime, Skyhawks led 65-62. Skyhawks forced the Red Wolves to attempt a three-point goal that tied the game with a score of 65-65 sending the game into its second overtime.
In the second overtime, neither team made any big plays and the score remained 65-65. The game was then sent into the third and final overtime.
“If we would have made one play in the second overtime, we probably would have won,” said James.
ASU started the scoring out in the triple overtime. They quickly gained a three-point lead on UTM. Jones refused to accept the ASU lead and sunk a three-point goal to once again tie the game.
Childs was called for a personal foul on ASU’s 24, Ed Townsend. With 1:51 left to play in the third overtime, ASU gained a four-point lead over UTM. Mike Liabo for the Skyhawks quickly answered with a three-point goal bringing theSkyhawks within one-point of the Red Wolves.
With 1:06 left to play in the game, Jones was called for a personal foul on ASU’s 15, Brandon Peterson. With Peterson missing his first foul shot but making his second, the score was brought to 71-75 with the Skyhawks trailing by four.
“There’s a process to winning, a few things you have to do to learn to win. I don’t know that we’re there yet,” said James.
Both teams scored again before the end of the game; however, Red Wolves took the victory from the Skyhawks with a final score of 73 to 77.
