Jonesboro, Ark. – Arkansas State’s Adrian Banks sparked a second-half comeback that gave the Indians an 81-66 victory Thursday night over Denver in the Sun Belt Conference opener for both schools.
Banks scored just two points in 18 minutes of play in the first half, and the Indians (6-7) trailed at the break 36-29.
He finished with 24 points to share scoring honors with Denver’s Antonio Porch.
Banks’ 22 second-half points included 18 on 6-of-7 shooting from 3-point range. Overall, Arkansas State made 14-of-24 from beyond the arc, including 10-of-14 in the second half.
Ryan Wedel added a career-high 20 points for the Indians, including six 3-pointers, while Isaac Wells scored 17 and Shawn Morgan had 11.
Arkansas State trailed by as many as nine points in the first half but went on an 11-2 run early in the second period – beginning with a steal by Banks that led to Morgan hitting a jumper – to tie the game at 40 with 14:50 left. Denver (1-10) never led again.
Lorens Knudsen led the Mountaineers (6-2) with 20 points. Anfang finished with 14. Geremy Gibson and Chris Brever had 16 points each for Regis (5-4).
Mesa State (6-2) scored its last field goal with 1:37 remaining, while Chadron State (1-8) rallied. But the Eagles, led by Theo Donley’s 23 points, couldn’t recover.
Area women
Diana Lopez had 23 points, and twin sister Denise added 17 points and 17 rebounds as Regis beat visiting Western State 74-65.
Western State (3-6) clawed back from a 34-20 halftime deficit to cut the Rangers’ lead to 66-63 on a layup by Taryn Brennan at the 3:04 mark, but Diana Lopez hit a 3-pointer and Regis (6-3) sealed the win by making its free throws down the stretch.
Led by Allison Piekarski’s 21 points, Mesa State (6-2) defeated Chadron State (0-7) 84-71 in Chadron, Neb.
