JONESBORO -- Arkansas State was two days removed from a deflating loss that removed it from first place in the Sun Belt Conference standings. On top of that, the Red Wolves were welcoming in one of the best defensive teams in Division I basketball that still had that league-leading spot.
No matter for ASU, which forced its way into a tie atop the Sun Belt on Monday night when it unleashed a first-half frenzy unlike anything it had seen all season, then held off two second-half rallies by UALR for a 76-73 victory at the Convocation Center.
Against a team that had sprinted to a surprising start with its defense, ASU did whatever it wanted for much of Monday's game, shooting 62.