JONESBORO, Ark. – After falling behind by 15 points in the first half, the University of South Alabama men's basketball team got as close as four late in the contest but was unable to pull ahead in a 74-62 loss to Arkansas State Monday night at the Convocation Center.

The Red Wolves improve to 14-6 overall and 5-2 in the Sun Belt Conference. The Jaguars drop to 9-11 and 2-5.

"I thought in the first half we started really well with that group; I thought they defended and gave us a chance early, but as the half wore on, Arkansas State crushed us in the paint – it was 30-8 at halftime and they were quicker to the ball and able to beat us on the glass," USA head coach Matthew Graves said.

"In the second half, for the first eight minutes, I thought that was the best defense we've played all season. We were flying around and we were very active. I thought those guys really brought it."

Freshman Josh Ajayi (El Monte, Calif.) and senior Ken Williams (Houston, Texas) combined for 31 points for the Jags, with Ajayi leading the way with 17, including a career-best three 3-pointers. Williams added 14.

"I thought Josh did a great job of spacing the floor and he took 3s that were in rhythm and uncontested, which was good," Graves said. "Around the basket, I know he had a few that he would like to have back, but he scored around the basket and got fouled.

"I thought (Ken) played a little better tonight attacking the rim and not settling for that 3-point shot. In the second half, we probably should have gotten him out for a few minutes, but we were on a roll and stuck with that group, which was really defending and cut the lead to four. Overall, those two guys did a nice job for us offensively."

Arkansas State went up by 15 points late in the first half – and 14 at halftime – but South Alabama came out firing to open the second period with a 10-0 run, holding the Red Wolves scoreless for almost seven minutes – without a field goal in their first eight attempts – to get USA to 45-41.

"The two things we changed were our ball-screen coverage and we challenged them at halftime to play physical, tough, aggressive basketball," Graves stated. "We were allowing guys to drive it and rebound it on us in the first half, so we challenged those guys in the second half and really responded to that challenge."

Another Jaguar run, this time a 6-0 spurt, pulled them within four points on two occasions, the final time after a Herb McGee (Reserve, La.) 3-pointer but A-State responded to keep the Jags at bay, and finished the contest on a 10-3 run.

"Obviously you don't want to get behind like we did, but at the same time, we have some guys that are very competitive and hate to lose," Graves said. "Those are the guys that we went with tonight and I thought they fought and did some nice things.

"You're talking about a team that is now 8-0 at home and that's what good teams are supposed to do: put you away late," Graves said. "The biggest issue that we had was getting behind like we did in the first half, and we can't allow that to happen. But at the same time, I really liked that we didn't quit and continued to fight and play hard. We're going to continue to play guys that are team-first guys and will do the little things that will ultimately add up to wins."

Deven Simms came off the bench to pour in a game-high 23 points on 9-for-13 shooting from the floor and 5-for-5 from the free-throw line. He made it a double-double with a game-best 10 rebounds.

"Simms was the difference-maker for them, especially in the first half," Graves noted. "He was 7 for 8 from the field in the first half and I think they were all layups and put-backs. They are good enough with Donte Thomas and Devin Carter as their main guys, that you can not allow one of their role players to have a double-double."

Tamas Bruce and Devin Carter tallied 13 points each, and Rashad Lindsey added 10. Donte Thomas dished out nine assists.

South Alabama returns home this weekend, hosting league-leading Georgia Southern Saturday at 7:05 p.m.

NOTES: Arkansas State has won eight of the last nine games in the series… A-State won the points in the paint 46-26, including 30-8 in the first half alone… The Red Wolves shot 43.5 percent from the floor in the second half, ending a run of 10 of 11 Division I opponents that converted 50 percent or better; A-State did shoot 51.7 percent for the contest, just the second team to do in the last 10 games… Monday marked just the second time all season a USA opponent converted 50 percent or better in the first half after the Red Wolves shot 57.1 percent, the highest by a an opponent this year… After recording 16 steals in a seven-game stretch, junior Shaq Calhoun (Rome, Ga.) has gone without one in his last two outings… Williams tied his season high with three thefts, part of eight for the Jaguars as a team… South Alabama fell to 1-8 when trailing at halftime, 2-9 with a negative assist/turnover ratio and 0-7 when losing the bench points… Ajayi has reached double-digit points in six of his last seven games, and has led the team in scoring in two of his last three outings… USA is plus-12 in the turnover department in the last two games… McGee has a 3-pointer in each of his last six games, shooting 7 for 13 from distance over that stretch… Carter, the conference's third-leading scorer, was held below his season average of 16.9 ppg; he averaged 26.5 points vs. South Alabama last season… The Red Wolves won the rebounding battle 38-28; the Jags are minus-20 in their last two contests.

The 2017 Sun Belt Conference Men's and Women's Basketball Championships are scheduled for a week of March Madness in the Big Easy.  New Orleans will once again be home to the two championships that will take place at Lakefront Arena from March 7-12 and ticket books can now be purchased from your school's ticket office.  For more information, visit the Sun Belt Conference's championship central websites - Men's Championship – Women's Championship – and be sure to follow the #FunBelt on social media - @SunBelt.

For more information about South Alabama athletics, check back with www.usajaguars.com, and follow the Jaguars at www.twitter.com/USAJaguarSports. Season tickets for all Jaguar athletic events can be purchased by calling (251) 461-1USA (1872).

—USA—