Under the Radar Game of the Day: SIU Edwardsville at Arkansas State

SIU Edwardsville at Arkansas State, 8:30 PM Eastern, astateredwolves.com ($4.95 fee)

For our latest HoopsHD Report video podcast, CLICK HERE.

The Under the Radar Game of the Day comes from Jonesboro, Arkansas as the Sun Belt’s Arkansas State Red Wolves welcome in the Ohio Valley’s SIU Edwardsville Cougars for a non-conference matchup.  SIUE enters the game tonight with a record of 2-2 on the young season, having started things off with a 2-1 performance in Hawai’i at the Rainbow Classic, picking up wins over Hawai’i and Florida Atlantic, but falling to Texas State.  They also lost their last time out, at home to in-state rival Southern Illinois.  Sophomore Tre Harris is definitely worth keeping an eye on for the Cougars.  Despite not being a starter, he has led the team in scoring in 3 of their first 4 games and picked up a double-double in the fourth.  He was particularly impressive against Southern Illinois, scoring a career high 24 points including a career high 5 three pointers.  Despite only playing 12 minutes in the team’s opener, he has been close to 30 minutes in each of the last three games and that time may increase even more if he keeps playing this well.

The Cougars will have their work cut out for them tonight in Jonesboro, as Arkansas State appears to be this year’s early season noise-maker out of the Sun Belt (an honor that was shared by Little Rock and Texas-Arlington last season).  Although the Red Wolves did start the season with a loss at North Dakota State, they have won four straight since that time, including a win at Georgetown and a neutral court win over a very good Chattanooga team.  Devin Carter (25 points against Georgetown) and Donte Thomas (a double-double with 18 points and 10 assists against Chattanooga) are both having great seasons so far and will both be worth watching tonight and as the season moves forward.  In fact, it would not be a surprise if Thomas picks up a couple of triple-doubles this season (he did get one last year against South Alabama).  Tonight’s games is the first of a three game homestand for the Red Wolves which will include a home game this weekend against a very good Lehigh team, and a potential second appearance in the UTR Game of the Day.  In fact, if they can keep up their winning ways we may be discussing a lot more about this team all season.  But for now, all their concentration has to be tonight’s game and the SIU Edwardsville Cougars.