JONESBORO, Ark. – Marcus Millender and Samuel Tabe combined for 54 points, but the South Alabama men's basketball team could not find consistency on the defensive end and fell 95-78 to Arkansas State Saturday evening in First National Bank Arena. The loss drops the Jags to 14-15 overall and 6-10 in Sun Belt play, while Arkansas State improved to 15-14 on the season and 10-6 in conference play. 

Samuel Tabe led the Jags for the third game in a row, finishing with 27 points on 9-of-10 shooting from the free throw line and seven rebounds. Freshman Marcus Millender set a new season-high of 27 points on 5-of-6 shooting from downtown and two rebounds. 

The Jags had an explosive night offensively, shooting 50 percent from the field and 58.3 percent from behind the arc, but they could not contain a lethal Red Wolves attack that had five players finish in double figures and collected 42 points in the paint. 

Game Facts (How it Happened) 

• Arkansas State came out of the gates on fire, rifling out on a 7-2 run at the 16:52 mark. 
• The Jags showed fight and pulled back within two points off an 8-5 spurt after Howell hammered home a dunk and a layup, and Tabe rattled in a tough layup to trim Ark State's lead to 12-10 with 14:32 left in the half. 
• The Red Wolves responded with a 10-3 run off their own to take a 22-13 advantage with 12:23 on the clock. 
• Tabe grabbed back the momentum with five quick points and Julian Margrave would splash his second triple of the game, making the score, 22-21 with 11:08 remaining in the first half. 
• After both teams traded punches back and forth in the next three possessions, Arkansas State began to open things up and outscored the Jags 25 to 15 down the stretch, extending its lead to 47-36 heading into halftime. 
• The Red Wolves exploded out of the break on a 14-5 to post a 61-40 advantage with 15:39 remaining in the game. 
• The Jaguars would not give in as Tabe willed in a layup near the rim and Millender hit a three-pointer and drew contact for an And-One bucket to get the score 61-48 with 13:47 left in the game. 
• That would be the closest the Jags would get as the Arkansas State drained triples on four of their next five possessions to take a commanding 72-50 lead with nine minutes remaining. 
• South Alabama would not give up and continued to fight, but the Red Wolves were too strong, clinching a 95-78 victory. 

Notes 

• This is the third time this season that South Alabama has recorded a higher field goal percentage and three-point percentage than its opponent and still ended up on the losing end. (Arkansas State L 76-73 Feb.17, Louisiana L 88-79 Jan. 20)
• Tabe has scored 94 points in his last three games. 
• Margrave made two three-pointers for the fourth game in a row. 
• Jones led the Jags in assists for the fifth time this season. 
• Arkansas State had the advantage in the rebounding battle, grabbing 34 boards compared to the Jags 28. 
• Every active player for Arkansas State logged points. 
• South Alabama has made 15 or more free throws in four straight games. 

Up Next

South Alabama will close the regular season at home against Southern Miss on Wednesday, Feb.28 at 7 p.m. before hosting ULM for Senior Day on Saturday, March 1 at 7 p.m. 

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