Jonesboro, Ark. l 2:05 p.m. (CT)
Tip Off: The 2012-13 Arkansas State University men's basketball team starts a three-game non-conference homestand this week, beginning with this Saturday's (Dec. 8) matinee against the St. Bonaventure Bonnies in Jonesboro, Ark. A 2:05 p.m. (CT) start is scheduled for the contest at the ASU Convocation Center.
2012-13 A-StAte Ticket Information: Individual single-game ticket prices for the 2012-13 ASU men's basketball season are $12 for the upper center area, $10 for the upper side, $8 for the upper wings, $6 for children and senior citizens (age 55+), and $5 group rate purchase of 12 tickets or more. Tickets may be purchased through the ASU Box Office by calling 870-972-2781 or 888-ASU-FANS. Ticket information for the 2012-13 season is also available on ASU Athletics official Web site –
www.AStateRedWolves.com.
The Records: Arkansas State (4-3, 0-2 Sun Belt). The Red Wolves opened Sun Belt Conference (SBC) action in Florida this past week and dropped both of their conference contests. ASU suffered an 80-61 loss to FIU last Thursday (11/29) in Miami, Fla., and then was dealt a 72-65 setback by Florida Atlantic on Saturday (12/1) in Boca, Raton, Fla. A-State is 2-0 at home, 2-3 on the road, and 0-0 at neutral sites this season. St. Bonaventure (5-2, 0-0 Atlantic 10). The Bonnies extended their winning streak to two with a 58-43 home non-league win over Siena on Tuesday (12/4) in St. Bonaventure, N.Y. SBU, which won three of its initial four games to start the season, is 3-0 at home, 1-2 on the road, and 1-0 at neutral sites this season.
The Coaches: Arkansas State – John Brady (Bellhaven, 1976), 5th season, 65-69 (.485); Career - 346-285 (.548) – (1-0 vs. SBU). Brady was named the 2009-10 SBC Coach of the Year and the District VII Coach of the Year by the United States Basketball Writers Association (USBWA). He served six seasons (1991-97) as head coach at Samford and then spent 10-plus seasons (1997-08) in a head coaching capacity at LSU. Brady guided LSU to two SEC Championship titles along with four NCAA Tournament appearances, which included a Final Four appearance in the 2005-06 season. St. Bonaventure – Mark Schmidt (Boston College, 1985), 6th season, 79-82 (.491); Career: 12th season, 161-172 (.483) – (0-1 vs. ASU). Schmidt became the 19th coach in the program's history in April 2007 after serving in the same capacity at Robert Morris for six seasons (2001-07). He was recognized as the 2012 Sporting News Atlantic 10 Conference Coach of the Year and the 2012 Basketball Coaches Association of New York Men's Division I Coach of the Year. Prior to SBU, Schmidt was head coach at Robert Morris for six seasons (2001-07) and spent seven (1994-01) as an assistant at Xavier. He also completed assistant coaching stints at Loyola. Md. (1993-94), Penn State (1991-93), and St. Michael's (1989-91).
About St. Bonaventure: Senior guard-forward Chris Johnson (15.3 ppg.) is tops among three players averaging double-figure points. A pair of seniors, forward Demitrius Conger (14.6 ppg.) and guard Eric Mosley (10.4 ppg.) are also averaging double digits in points. Mosley presently ranks seventh nationally in three-point field goal percentage (54.8%) and is 47th in three-point field goals made per contest (2.83) for the Bonnies, who are listed 36th in the nation for three-point field goal percentage (39.8%). A season ago, St. Bonaventure posted a 20-12 overall record to go with a third-place tying 10-6 mark in the Atlantic 10 Conference. The Bonnies claimed their first Atlantic 10 Conference Championship title and clinched their first NCAA Tournament berth since 2000 before falling to Florida State in second round NCAA Tourney play (3/11/12) at Nashville, Tenn.
All-Time Series: The Red Wolves lead 1-0 in the all-time series after recording a 58-52 victory at St. Bonaventure this past season (12/1/11) in the first-ever meeting between the two schools. Ed Townsel and Trey Finn netted 13 and 12 points, respectively in the A-State win while Brandon Peterson had a game-high tying nine rebounds.
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