Arkansas State Rides Strong Second Half to Take Down Georgia Southern

Arkansas State’s 12-0 run in the early moments of the second half powered the team to an 85-68 victory over Georgia Southern.

When the two teams exited their respective locker rooms after halftime, the Red Wolves held a slim four-point advantage. Chandler Jackson’s layup was equalized by a two from Alden Applewhite. The next 12 points were all scored by Arkansas State.

HALFTIME

Arkansas State 39
Georgia Southern 35#WolvesUp pic.twitter.com/DS3koDuPne

— Arkansas State Men’s Basketball (@AStateMB) January 23, 2026

Christian Harmon’s three-pointer started the run. Jalen Hampton swung a pass to Harmon, who was waiting in the left corner. When he caught the pass, he wasted no time. The guard elevated over an oncoming defender and drained the shot, 44-37.

Later in the run, the Eagles appeared to be poised for a bucket. Jefferson Koulibaly came down with an errant pass and started in transition. But as he crossed half court, his elbow caught Joey Chammaa in the neck. The opportunity was nullified, and Chammaa was awarded two free throws. Koulibaly was also assessed a flagrant one foul.

After Chammaa drained both shots from the charity stripe, Arkansas State retained possession. This time it was Harmon who found Hampton for a score. Hampton took the bounce pass under the basket and hit a smooth reverse layup through traffic, 50-37.

It was only fitting that the run end the same way it started – with a three. Chandler Jackson got in on the action, pulling up from the left elbow for the triple, 53-37.

Applewhite quickly answered to get Georgia Southern back on track, but the damage had been done. By the time the Red Wolves’ run had ended, they had a 96.4% win probability, according to ESPN analytics.

The run was a microcosm of the game for Arkansas State. Four different players chipped in with points during the streak. It was a team effort for the Red Wolves, who had five players score in double figures. Chammaa’s 15 led the way, while Harmon (13) and Hampton (10) also hit double-digits while starting. TJ Caldwell and Jaxon Ellingsworth chipped in with 13 points each from the bench.

Chammaa, who earned his first start as a member of the Red Wolves, finished with a career-best six assists and just one turnover to go with his nice scoring performance. His first run as the offensive engine of the starting unit was a resounding success.

Georgia Southern struggled to find a rhythm offensively. The Eagles went on an 8-0 run early in the first half. From that point on, they did not score more than five points in a row until the game’s final two minutes.

Head coach Charlie Henry’s squad struggled mightily from beyond the arc. They attempted 35 shots from downtown and made just five. You don’t need to be a mathematician to know that isn’t good (for the record, 5-of-35 comes out to 15%). It is almost impossible to win a game when you miss 30 threes.

Got after it.#WolvesUp pic.twitter.com/o5qqYdhsTm

— Arkansas State Men’s Basketball (@AStateMB) January 23, 2026

Georgia Southern failed to score at least 70 points for the first time since Nov. 25, 2025, when they lost 77-64 against UTSA.

The loss marks the second in a row and the third in the last four games for the Eagles. They started conference play 4-0, but have slipped to 5-3 and now sit in fourth place in the Sun Belt.

The win was a much-needed one for Arkansas State. The Red Wolves dropped both of their games last week, and had slipped in the conference standings. They find themselves back on track and in third place in the Sun Belt. With the Eagles and Red Wolves tied towards the top of the Sun Belt standings, tonight’s result could have major implications for the conference down the line.

Both teams will be back in action on Saturday, with Arkansas State traveling to Georgia State, and Georgia Southern playing host to Troy.