HATTIESBURG, Miss. (Interstat) — Arkansas State used a strong first half to hold off a second-half rally and defeat Southern Mississippi 93-86 in a Sun Belt Conference men’s basketball game Saturday at Reed Green Coliseum. The Red Wolves built a 39-32 halftime lead and matched the Golden Eagles bucket-for-bucket after the break, with both teams scoring 54 points in the second half. Tylik Weeks led all scorers with 25 points for Southern Mississippi. Arkansas State countered with balanced scoring, as Chandler Jackson scored 18 points and Jaxon Ellingsworth added 16. The victory improved Arkansas State to 9-4 overall. Southern Mississippi fell to 7-6. Attendance was 2,827.

HATTIESBURG, Miss. (Interstat) — In a game defined by offensive efficiency and a relentless second-half surge, Arkansas State weathered a career-high scoring performance from Southern Mississippi’s Tylik Weeks to secure a 93-86 victory in a Sun Belt Conference men’s basketball game Saturday afternoon at Reed Green Coliseum. The Red Wolves (9-4, 1-0 Sun Belt) used a dominant first half to build a cushion, then matched the Golden Eagles (7-6, 0-1) basket-for-basket after halftime to hold on for the road win. Both teams scored 54 points in a frantic second half, but Arkansas State’s early work proved decisive. Southern Mississippi’s Tylik Weeks, a 6-foot-7 junior from New York, was spectacular in defeat, pouring in 25 points on 7-of-12 shooting from the field and a near-perfect 9-of-10 from the free-throw line. He added five rebounds in 33 minutes, keeping the Golden Eagles within striking distance throughout the night. Arkansas State, however, countered with a more balanced and opportunistic attack. The Red Wolves shot 46% from the field and were even more effective at the charity stripe, converting 27 of 33 attempts. Their offensive rating of 124.5 points per 100 possessions underscored a sharp performance against a Southern Miss defense that entered the contest allowing just 70.5 points per game. The most critical phase of the game was its opening segment. Arkansas State established control early, leveraging its size and activity to build a double-digit lead. The Red Wolves opened a 39-32 halftime advantage by dominating the interior, outscoring Southern Miss 42-30 in the paint for the game and grabbing 13 offensive rebounds that led to 14 second-chance points. Jaxon Ellingsworth, a 6-foot-9 forward from Morehead City, North Carolina, was instrumental in setting the tone. He finished with 16 points, six rebounds and two assists. His frontcourt mate, Jalen Hampton of St. Louis, added 15 points, seven rebounds and two blocks, providing a defensive anchor. The Golden Eagles, who shot a respectable 48.2% from the field and a stellar 25-of-27 from the free-throw line themselves, could never fully close the gap. Every time they threatened, Arkansas State had an answer, often from guard Christian Harmon. The Rochester, New York, native orchestrated the offense with 14 points and five assists, while Memphis native Chandler Jackson chipped in 18 points. Southern Mississippi’s Brewer Carruth supported Weeks with 16 points and six rebounds, and Djahi Binet of Nice, France, contributed seven points, six rebounds and three assists. But the Golden Eagles were hampered by 11 turnovers, which Arkansas State converted into 14 points, and a disparity in assists, with the Red Wolves dishing out nine to Southern Miss’s five. The game’s pivotal sequence came late in the first half. After Southern Mississippi’s Curt Lewis hit a 3-pointer to cut the Arkansas State lead to 29-26 with just over a minute remaining, the Red Wolves responded with a 10-3 run to close the period. The burst included a 3-pointer from Matt Hayman, a layup by Christian Harmon, and a tip-in at the buzzer by Brewer Carruth for Southern Miss that was too little, too late to shift the momentum. That run pushed the lead to 39-32 and provided the buffer Arkansas State would rely on for the remainder of the contest. In the second half, the two teams traded blows at a remarkable pace. Southern Mississippi shot 60% from the field after halftime, but Arkansas State matched it, shooting 58.1% to prevent any sustained comeback. The Golden Eagles got as close as five points on multiple occasions, but could never string together the consecutive defensive stops needed to overtake the visitors. A crowd of 2,827 watched as Arkansas State won its conference opener and improved to 9-4. Southern Mississippi, which had won two of its last three, fell to 7-6. Arkansas State next hosts Arkansas Tech on Dec. 30 before resuming Sun Belt play. Southern Mississippi travels to face LSU on Dec. 29 in its final non-conference test.

Preview: Arkansas State at Southern Mississippi HATTIESBURG, Miss. (Interstat) — A surging Arkansas State team visits Reed Green Coliseum on Saturday to face Southern Mississippi in a Sun Belt Conference men’s basketball matchup. The Red Wolves (8-4) enter on a high note after an 89-70 road victory at Texas State on Wednesday. Arkansas State has won four of its last five games, with the only loss in that stretch a narrow 77-76 defeat at Rice. Southern Mississippi (6-5) looks to rebound after a close 71-67 loss at Mississippi on Dec. 13. The Golden Eagles have alternated wins and losses over their past five contests. A key matchup will feature Arkansas State guard Christian Harmon against Southern Mississippi’s Isaac Taveras. Harmon is coming off a season-high 21-point performance in 24 minutes against Texas State, showcasing his scoring ability after a quiet 2-point outing at Rice. For the Golden Eagles, Taveras has been a consistent offensive threat, scoring 18 or more points in three of his last five games, including 20 in the loss at Ole Miss. Arkansas State’s recent success has been fueled by efficient offense, scoring 83 points or more in four of its last five wins. Beyond Harmon, contributors like Fredy-Salam Sylla (15 points vs. Texas State) and Matt Hayman provide balance. Southern Mississippi will rely on Taveras and guard Tylik Weeks, who scored 18 points against Ole Miss, to generate offense. The Golden Eagles have shown resilience in tight games, with four of their six wins coming by 10 points or fewer. This contest marks the conference opener for both teams. Arkansas State begins a stretch of eight of its next 10 games at home after this trip, while Southern Mississippi embarks on a string of road games following Saturday, including a visit to LSU on Dec. 29. Tip-off is set for Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, in Hattiesburg.