JONESBORO, Arkansas – UT Arlington men's basketball dropped a tightly-contested game in Jonesboro on Thursday night, ultimately falling 83-79 to Arkansas State. Four Mavs were in double figures, led by guard Jaden Wells' 19-point effort.
 
"We've got to get tougher rebounding the basketball," head coach KT Turner said following the game. "I felt like we fought till the end, but we made some bonehead plays on both ends that we need to clean up – minor, but it messed the flow of the game up. I feel like we should have been up 12 at half, we should have stepped on their throats more there in the first half. Our guards didn't do a great job rebounding – they've got to get tougher and we have to make free throws. I feel great about our guys making free throws, they've just got to step up there and make them. I don't think there will be many nights like this where we shoot this poorly from the free throw line."
 
The Mavs built a lead and carried it through most of the first half. Wells scored the team's first five, and guard Brandyn Talbot hit two quick threes for the Mavs to get things to 18-12 at the second media timeout.
 
Forward Diante Smith scored 11 of his 15 points in the opening half, knocking down a trio of triples, his third which put the Mavs up 29-25 late in the first. Forward/center Lance Ware was another Mav in double figures, finishing with 11 points, seven rebounds and four blocks, three of which came in the first half.
 
A bucket by guard Darius Burford in the final 15 seconds pushed the UTA lead to 39-35. The Mavs shot 9-of-17 from deep in the first half (52.9%) and finished 14-of-30 for the game.
 
The Mavs and Red Wolves traded buckets and leads early in the second half, but it was a 15-0 run by Arkansas State that ultimately did the Mavericks in. UTA cut the lead to as little as four, but it wasn't enough.
 
"It'll be great to get home and play a home game in front of our fans," Turner continued. "We'll be ready to go, I wish we could play tomorrow morning."
 
The Mavs return home to host Louisiana-Monroe (4-7) on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. CT from the College Park Center in Arlington. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN+ and on the radio on the Varsity App, 102.5 FM and KTNO 620 with the Voice of the Mavs, Josh Sours.
 
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