Free throws give ASU the edge

DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE PRESS SERVICES

MIAMI -- Free throws down the stretch made the difference in Arkansas State's 58-56 Sun Belt Conference victory at Florida International on Saturday night.
The Indians (12-7, 6-1) were only 6 of 11 from the free throw line in the final three minutes, but it was enough to help them pull even with idle Western Kentucky in the Sun Belt Conference East Division race.
"It was a great win," ASU Coach Dickey Nutt said. "It's hard to come down here and win a game. It's hard to win anywhere. I'm so proud of the Indians. We did just enough to win this game."
Florida International's Carlos Arroyo, who led all scorers with 25 points, hit his sixth three-pointer of the night, the last field goal of the game, to tie the score 52-52.
Arkansas State grabbed the lead on a free throw by Kolin Weaver, who led the Indians with 19 points and nine rebounds. Then, after a series of turnovers by both teams, ASU took a 55-52 lead with 28.8 seconds remaining on two more free throws by Jamie Rosser.
An Arroyo free throw with :15.7 left made it 55-53. But one free throw each by DeWayne Hart, Odie Williams and Williams -- the last with just :03.9 remaining -- neutralized three by Florida International's Fab Fisher, and the Indians led 58-56 with one last possession by the Golden Panthers (3-14, 1-5).
Florida International inbounded the ball under the ASU basket and Arroyo was long on a 30-footer as the buzzer sounded.
ASU's 7-0 center Jason Jennings was held scoreless for the first time this season and limited to just four rebounds. Florida International's 6-8 senior center Karel Rosario had nine points and a career-high 16 rebounds.
"Jason didn't have much of a presence tonight," Nutt said. "This was a game we were very concerned with. This was the first time all year we were coming off a loss [in conference play] and we didn't know how we'd respond. But I thought our defense and our energy and total team attitude was super. We're glad to get back on that winning track."
Junior guard Nick Rivers, returning from the flu that sidelined him in Thursday's loss at UALR, scored 13 points for ASU and senior point guard Jamie Rosser scored 11.

This article was published on Sunday, January 21, 2001

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