In a thrilling matchup in Pensacola, Florida, Arkansas State achieved a historic victory by capturing their first Sun Belt Tournament championship. Crislyn Rose and Mimi McCollister played crucial roles for the No. 2 seed, scoring 23 and 16 points respectively, to propel Arkansas State to an 86-79 overtime triumph against the top-seeded James Madison.
This momentous win secured Arkansas State (21-10) a spot in the NCAA Tournament, marking their inaugural appearance on the prestigious stage. The victory shattered James Madison’s (28-5) remarkable streak, as the Dukes had not faced defeat since December 19. James Madison came into the tournament riding high on a 20-game winning streak, with an undefeated 18-0 conference record. They were aiming for their second Sun Belt Conference title since joining in 2022 and an 11th overall conference tournament win.
The game’s intensity was marked by McCollister’s consecutive three-pointers, coming just 23 seconds apart, which tied the game at 63-all with under six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Following two consecutive turnovers by James Madison, Rose stepped up with another critical three-pointer, pushing Arkansas State ahead for the first time since the late stages of the first quarter.
In overtime, Rose continued to shine, sinking a long jumper with a toe on the arc and swiftly following with a corner three-pointer, extending Arkansas State’s lead to 77-71. James Madison’s offensive struggles continued with Ashanti Barnes hitting their first field goal of the overtime period at the 2:02 mark. The Dukes’ attempts to close the gap were thwarted as Arkansas State capitalized on offensive rebounds, with McCollister and Wynter Rogers connecting on three of four free-throw attempts, solidifying their lead at 80-73.
Alongside Rose and McCollister, Arkansas State enjoyed additional contributions from Anna Griffin, who scored 13 points, while Rogers and Kennedie Montue chipped in with 12 and 11 points, respectively.
On the other side, Peyton McDaniel from James Madison delivered a commanding performance with 24 points and 11 rebounds. Ashanti Barnes also registered a double-double, contributing 17 points and 13 rebounds. McDaniel’s efforts were especially notable during a 17-0 run in the second quarter, helping the Dukes to a substantial 40-23 lead. However, by halftime, Arkansas State had managed to narrow the margin to 40-32.
Had James Madison prevailed, it would have marked their 21st consecutive victory, equaling the program’s longest streak set by the 1990-91 team. Unfortunately for the Dukes, they fell just short of continuing their historic run.
