JONESBORO, Ark. (3/18/25) – A game-opening 17-2 surge set the tone for the Arkansas State men's basketball team on Tuesday night in a wire-to-wire 103-78 victory over Saint Louis in the first round of the NIT inside First National Bank Arena.
The Red Wolves (25-10) knocked down 16 3-pointers and shot a blistering 54.1 percent from the field against the Billikens (19-15) to become the first Sun Belt team since 2017 to win an NIT game. A-State is also just the second SBC team ever to eclipse 100 points in an NIT contest.
Five players scored in double figures for the Scarlet and Black, led by 26 points and 10 boards from Izaiyah Nelson, who also swiped a career-high four steals and converted a career-best 12 field goals.