PENSACOLA, Fla. — In a thrilling Sun Belt Conference Tournament’s semifinal clash, Arkansas State emerged victorious with a narrow 74-71 win over the top-seeded South Alabama on Sunday night. Joseph Pinion spearheaded the Red Wolves’ effort, scoring an impressive 23 points to secure the triumph.
As the fourth seed, the Red Wolves now improve their record to 24-9. They will advance to face the winner of another semifinal game scheduled on Sunday between second-seed James Madison and third-seed Troy. The anticipated title game set for Monday will determine who will receive an automatic entry into the NCAA Tournament. Notably, a four-way tiebreaker was necessary to establish the seeding for the top four teams, as all four concluded the conference play with matching 13-5 records.
Beyond his scoring prowess, Pinion contributed six rebounds and distributed five assists in the win. His teammate, Kobe Julien, was also a key factor, recording 14 points, five rebounds, and four steals, while Terrance Ford Jr. added 11 points to the scoreboard.
Despite the loss, South Alabama, which concludes its season with a commendable 21-11 record, saw an outstanding performance from Barry Dunning Jr., who dominated with 27 points, 13 rebounds, and three steals. Additionally, Elijah Ormiston provided solid support with his 21 points and nine rebounds, complemented by Myles Corey’s 12 points.
Arkansas State secured their final lead with Kobe Julien’s decisive layup with 8:28 remaining in the second half, pushing them ahead 55-53 and keeping them on top until the final buzzer.
