For the second straight year, the Indians end their season with a first-round Sun Belt Conference tournament loss after a 101-80 defeat to Jacksonville, a team that won only four regular season games.

Earlier in the season, Arkansas State defeated Jacksonville twice, the second time by 33 points.

ASU head coach Dickey Nutt said: "They just beat us. I was disappointed, but our team had a good year, and we have to look at the other side of that. It's a hurt locker room in there. They're very disappointed in their performance, and they know they're a better basketball team than that."

Jacksonville's John Knox led the Dolphins' attack with 38 points. Twenty-seven of his points came from three pointers, a tournament high. Knox shot 12-of-17 overall and 9-of-11 on three pointers.

Knox said: "I'd probably have to say that's the best I've ever shot. I don't know what my percentage was, but it was feeling pretty good whenever I'd let it go. I knew it was going in."

Junior guard Micah Marsh said: "I can only remember two misses, maybe. He was in a zone. You can't do much when he's in a zone except try to face-guard him, not let him get the ball."

Playing with a heavily taped hand, senior all-conference forward Mark Kiehne scored only five points. Kiehne was hospitalized before the tournament because of an infection on his hand.

Sophomore guard Antonio Harvey led the Indians with 21 points. Marsh finished with 16 points, while junior forward Jabari Myles had 15 points.

ASU has not been past the SBC quarterfinals since 1993. The Indians have not played in the finals of any conference tournament since the 1987 Southland Championship.

Back to this issue
Back to Herald Archives