JONESBORO, Ark. – Georgia State led for 22 of the first 27 minutes and was up 46-42 with under 13 minutes in the game when center Brittany Logan went to the bench with three fouls. Host Arkansas State capitalized with a 16-4 run with every point scored in the paint in her absence and took a 58-50 lead at 5:45 when she returned to the game. Arkansas State went on to win 76-65 with the largest lead of the game.

Georgia State closed back to 63-57 with 3:06 still to go, but ASU went to the free throw line 10 more times to secure the win.

A big difference in the game proved to be the 19 of 25 for the host Red Wolves at the free throw line, compared to just 2 of 4 for the visitors. Georgia State came into the game having shot the most free throws in the Sun Belt (357, 22.3 per game), but had the season low tonight that was 10 less than the previous low 14 shot in non-conference vs. Kennesaw State.

Georgia State (8-9, 3-5) got 18 points from 4-foot-11 point guard Alisha Andrews and 15 points from freshman guard Makeba Ponder. Logan scored 11 points in the 21 minutes she was able to play, hitting 5 of 7. Forward Kennesha Nichols added 10 points and nine rebounds for the Panthers. Georgia State shot 55 percent in the first half and 47.5 percent for the game.

Arkansas State (12-6, 7-1) had four players in double figures, with Sun Belt preseason player of the year Aundrea Gamble scoring 21 points on 8 of 19 shooting. Forward Khadi Haywood-Brown hit 4 of 5 3-pointers for 18 points. ASU made 7 of 21 3-pointers. But, it was the 19 of 25 free throws that provided the win. Arkansas State improves to 7-1 at home overall this year.

Georgia State, the only team to beat ASU at home last year, started on the same path tonight. GSU opened a 12-7 lead at 13:49. When Arkansas State closed to 14-13, Georgia State went on a 11-2 run to open a 10-point lead at 25-15 at 6:20. The visiting Panthers again led by 10 points at 33-23 with 1:55 in the half. Georgia State took a 37-29 lead into the halftime break.

In the second half, GSU maintained its lead for the first seven minutes, including the 46-42 lead when Logan went to the bench with three fouls.

“I can be pleased with the first half lead, but it is hard to beat a team when they shoot 25 free throws and you shoot four,” coach Sharon Baldwin-Tener said. “Obviously, we fouled too much. The three games in five days and two straight on the road probably do catch up with you, especially big people like Brittany Logan. We played hard and now we get to go home and rest up a little until Saturday.”

Georgia State plays host to its Letterman's Day game at noon on Saturday in the GSU Sports Arena against the Ragin' Cajuns from UL Lafayette.

NOTEBOOK:

• GSU slips to 2-3 on the road this season.
• Andrews had her 57th career double-figure game, upping her career total to 1,126 points. With 5 more assists tonight, she upped her career total to 518 of those. She's topped 300 in career rebounds (316) and is closing in on 300 career steals (284), while moving closing to 200 career 3-point baskets (186).
• Makeba Ponder added 3 3-pointers tonight to up her season toal to 41, second-most in the Sun Belt.
• Freshman Kennesha Nichols had her second double-figure scoring game. Her 9 rebounds tonight marked her fourth game of the season with 9 and her third straight with that number.
• Nichols is shooting 57.4 percent from the field to lead the team with Logan is shooting 53.4 percent.
• The Letterman's Day reception Saturday starts at 11 a.m. in the Sports Arena.
• Saturday's game is part of the Doubleheader TV game on ESPN3