JONESBORO, Ark. – Arkansas State shot 60% from the field and knocked down 12 3-pointers, leading wire-to-wire over ULM Saturday afternoon for a 95-80 win at First National Bank Arena.
 
A-State (10-13 overall, 6-5 Sun Belt Conference) shot an eye-popping 72% (18-of-25) from the field and 75% (9-of-12) from 3-point range in the first half, while also connecting on 12-of-16 free throw attempts (75%), building a 20-point advantage at the break, 57-37. ULM never drew closer than 13 points in the second half. The Red Wolves finished the day shooting 60% (30-of-50) from the field and 55% (12-of-22) from 3-point land.
 
It comes six days after A-State blew a 17-point lead in an 85-82 ULM (7-14, 3-8) win in overtime in Monroe last Sunday.
 
A second dramatic comeback in less than a week against the Red Wolves wasn't in the cards for the Warhawks, as A-State scored the first seven points of the game, with five coming from Caleb Fields. ULM steadied itself and closed within a point, 11-10, on two free throws by Savion Gallion, but could never get the game tied or go in front.
 
A-State led 25-21 after Nika Metskhvarishvili finished a traditional 3-point play. The Red Wolves then hit three-straight 3-pointers on the next three possessions, with two by Julian Lual and one by Taryn Todd, to take a 13-point lead, 34-21, with 8:07 left in the half.
 
ULM never cut the gap to less than 11 points the rest of the way. Todd hit a 3-pointer just before the halftime horn to expand the lead to 20 at the break, 57-37.
 
A-State led by as much as 26 in the second half at 68-42 on free throws by Derrian Ford with 16:22 to go.
 
ULM pulled within 13 on a trey by Tyreke Locure to make it 72-59 with 12:24 left to cap a 17-4 run by the Warhawks. However, an 8-0 run by A-State out of the media timeout extinguished any hopes of a second-straight comeback.
 
The Warhawks had a good offensive day in their own right, topping 50% shooting for the second-straight game with 53% (29-of-55) from the field, 6-of-8 (75%) from 3-point range and 70% (16-of-23) at the free throw line. However, A-State couldn't be slowed.
 
Nika Metskhvarishvili led ULM with 20 points, his second 20-point effort of the season, both coming against A-State. Tyreese Watson added 19 points, while Tyreke Locure added 11 points, all in the second half.
 
Fields led A-State with a 22-point, 13-assist double-double. Izaiyah Nelson added a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds, while Zane Butler added 16 points, Julian Lual chipped in 14 and Taryn Todd had 11.
 
ULM returns to Fant-Ewing Coliseum at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday to face Coastal Carolina.