MOBILE, Ala. (Interstat) — Chaze Harris scored 38 points to lead South Alabama to a 91-87 overtime victory over Arkansas State in a Sun Belt Conference men’s basketball game Thursday night at Mitchell Center. The Jaguars (13-5, 2-1) erased a four-point halftime deficit with a 49-point second half, forcing overtime where they outscored the Red Wolves 10-6. Harris, a junior from Cleveland, Ohio, added five assists in 40 minutes. Arkansas State (12-6, 2-1) was led by Royal Blue Smith and Jaxon Ellingsworth with 18 points each. Matt Hayman added 15 points. The Red Wolves shot just 13 of 44 from 3-point range and committed 18 turnovers, which South Alabama converted into 11 steals. A crowd of 2,480 watched as South Alabama overcame being out-rebounded on the offensive glass 13-5 by forcing key turnovers late.

MOBILE, Ala. (Interstat) — In a Sun Belt Conference clash defined by relentless pressure and a singular, spectacular performance, the South Alabama Jaguars outlasted the Arkansas State Red Wolves 91-87 in overtime Thursday night at the Mitchell Center before a crowd of 2,480. The game’s defining narrative was the historic outing by South Alabama guard Chaze Harris. The junior from Cleveland, Ohio, poured in a career-high 38 points, shouldering the offensive load for the Jaguars and delivering critical baskets whenever Arkansas State threatened to seize control. Harris added five assists, playing all but five minutes of the contest and shooting 13 of 23 from the field while earning 14 trips to the free-throw line. Harris’s brilliance was necessary to overcome a gritty Arkansas State squad that battled back from a double-digit second-half deficit and nearly stole the game in regulation. The Red Wolves, despite being plagued by 18 turnovers that South Alabama converted into 24 points, showcased their resilience and shooting depth. Matt Hayman of Delhi, Louisiana, scored 15 points, while Royal Blue Smith from Parkland, Florida, led the team with 18 points, all coming from beyond the arc on 6-of-18 shooting. Jaxon Ellingsworth, a 6-foot-9 forward from Morehead City, North Carolina, also added 18 points and a game-high seven offensive rebounds. The contest turned decisively on two key statistical disparities: ball security and interior scoring. South Alabama’s defensive pressure, led by 11 team steals, forced those 18 Arkansas State turnovers while committing only four of their own. This staggering +14 turnover margin directly fueled the Jaguars’ transition game, which produced 15 fastbreak points. Furthermore, South Alabama dominated the paint, outscoring Arkansas State 50 to 34, with Harris repeatedly attacking the rim. Arkansas State established an early lead, using a 9-0 run to go ahead 20-11 midway through the first half. They maintained that advantage for much of the period, taking a 36-32 lead into halftime behind 10 first-half points from Hayman. The Jaguars’ offense, outside of Harris, struggled to find consistency early. The second half saw a dramatic shift. South Alabama emerged from the locker room with intensified defensive energy, sparking a 15-4 run to open the period. Harris was the catalyst, scoring nine points during the surge as the Jaguars built a 47-40 lead. They extended their advantage to as many as 11 points, at 63-52, with just over nine minutes remaining, capitalizing on a series of Arkansas State miscues. Facing a significant deficit, the Red Wolves mounted a furious comeback, primarily through the three-point shot. Smith and TJ Caldwell hit crucial threes, and a driving layup by Hayman with 57 seconds left tied the game at 74. After a Randy Brady three-pointer put South Alabama back up 78-75 with 19 seconds remaining, Hayman was fouled on a three-point attempt with 13 seconds left. He calmly sank all three free throws to knot the score at 78. South Alabama had the final possession of regulation. Following a timeout, Adam Olsen of Surrey, Canada, sank a deep three-pointer at the buzzer to seemingly win the game, but a review determined the shot was released after the clock expired, sending the game to overtime tied at 78. In the extra period, Harris immediately took over, scoring South Alabama’s first six points to give the Jaguars an 84-80 lead. Arkansas State stayed within striking distance, closing to 88-87 on a Chandler Jackson tip-in with 2:20 left. The Red Wolves then had two possessions to take the lead but came up empty. Harris then delivered the final dagger, driving for a layup with 1:47 left to push the lead to 90-87. Arkansas State had two more chances to tie but missed three-point attempts by Smith and Christian Harmon. Olsen sealed the victory by making one of two free throws with 10 seconds left for the final four-point margin. Beyond Harris’s heroics, Olsen finished with 14 points and two blocks for South Alabama. Hantz Louis Jeune added 10 points. For Arkansas State, Chudi Dioramma contributed nine points off the bench. South Alabama improved to 13-5 overall and 2-1 in Sun Belt play, while Arkansas State fell to 12-6 and 1-2. The Jaguars host Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday, while the Red Wolves travel to face Troy on the same day. The two teams will meet again in Jonesboro on Feb. 14. The most critical phase of the game was South Alabama’s commanding start to the second half. After trailing for the majority of the first half, the Jaguars unleashed a decisive 15-4 run out of the break, fueled by Harris’s scoring and a suffocating defense that forced multiple Arkansas State turnovers. This surge transformed a four-point halftime deficit into a seven-point lead, established the game’s tempo in South Alabama’s favor, and forced the Red Wolves to play from behind for the entire second half and overtime, ultimately expending the energy needed to complete the comeback.

Sun Belt Showdown Features Red Wolves, Jaguars MOBILE, Ala. (Interstat) — A pivotal early-season Sun Belt Conference clash is set for Thursday night when the Arkansas State Red Wolves visit the South Alabama Jaguars at the Mitchell Center. Both teams enter the contest with identical 12-5 overall records, adding stakes to the league matchup. Arkansas State (1-1 Sun Belt) is coming off a narrow 83-82 home victory over Texas State on Jan. 10, secured despite a late rally. South Alabama (1-1) rebounded from a conference-opening loss with an 87-71 win over Georgia Southern on the same date. The Red Wolves will lean on forward Jalen Hampton, who is averaging a double-double in conference play. He posted 11 points and 12 rebounds in the win over Texas State after a 13-rebound performance in a loss to James Madison on Jan. 3. His interior presence will be key against a physical South Alabama frontcourt. The Jaguars counter with forward Stephen Williams, who nearly notched a double-double with 19 points and nine rebounds against Georgia Southern. Williams has been a consistent force, recording 13 rebounds in a loss at Troy on Jan. 3. Arkansas State has shown potency on the road this season, boasting wins at Southern Mississippi and Texas State in December. South Alabama has protected its home court with a 7-2 record in Mobile, including a dominant 85-52 victory over Mobile on Dec. 29. The matchup features two of the Sun Belt’s top offensive units. Arkansas State averages 82.2 points per game, while South Alabama puts up 75.9 per contest. The Jaguars’ defense, however, has been slightly more stringent, allowing 68.2 points per game to the Red Wolves’ 71.4. Thursday’s winner will gain an early advantage in the conference standings before a quick turnaround on Saturday. Arkansas State travels to Troy, while South Alabama hosts Louisiana-Lafayette. Tip-off is scheduled for 8 p.m. EST.