LAFAYETTE, La. (Interstat) — Chandler Jackson scored 31 points and Arkansas State used a dominant defensive performance to pull away from Louisiana-Lafayette for a 79-62 victory in a Sun Belt Conference men’s basketball game Thursday night at the Cajundome.

The Red Wolves (17-11, 9-6) held the Ragin’ Cajuns (9-19, 5-10) to a frigid 32.4% shooting from the field and forced a season-low three turnovers, but it was their own offensive efficiency that proved decisive. Arkansas State shot 58.3% on two-point field goals and scored 79 points on just 71 possessions, overcoming 17 turnovers of their own.

Jackson, a 6-foot-5 guard from Memphis, Tennessee, was the catalyst, hitting 12 of 19 shots from the floor and adding two assists in 34 minutes. His scoring outburst came after a stretch of more facilitative play, having averaged 10.7 points over his previous three games. Jalen Hampton added 12 points and nine rebounds for the Red Wolves, while Joey Chammaa provided a key spark off the bench with nine points, all from the free-throw line, in 11 minutes.

The game’s most critical sequence came late in the first half, turning a tight contest into a lead Arkansas State would not relinquish. After a back-and-forth opening 15 minutes that saw six ties and four lead changes, the Red Wolves closed the half on a 15-5 run over the final 4:28. Jackson was central to the surge, scoring eight points during the stretch, including a driving layup and a pull-up jumper in the final minute. His layup just before the halftime buzzer gave Arkansas State a 36-33 lead, capping a half where they shot 60% from the field.

Louisiana-Lafayette, which had stayed close early behind Jaxon Olvera and Dorian Finister, who each finished with 18 points, saw its offense completely stall after halftime. The Ragin’ Cajuns missed 10 of their first 11 shots to open the second half, allowing Arkansas State to methodically extend its advantage. A 7-0 run, punctuated by a Chandler Jackson layup, pushed the lead to 48-37 with 14:14 to play, and the margin never dipped below nine points the rest of the way.

The Cajuns’ offensive struggles were comprehensive. They made just 6 of 23 three-point attempts and only secured eight free-throw attempts, making eight. De’Vion Lavergne contributed 13 points and three assists, but the team’s 85.8 offensive rating was a season low, hampered by their inability to convert second chances despite grabbing 10 offensive rebounds.

Arkansas State, conversely, consistently found high-percentage shots inside, scoring 42 points in the paint. When the Cajuns attempted to rally, the Red Wolves answered at the free-throw line, making 20 of 28 attempts. A three-pointer from Dorian Finister cut the deficit to 60-51 with 3:08 remaining, but Arkansas State scored on its next four possessions, with Jackson and Christian Harmon converting layups to seal the game.

The victory keeps Arkansas State in the upper tier of the Sun Belt standings, while Louisiana-Lafayette dropped its third straight game. The teams are scheduled to meet again in Jonesboro, Arkansas, on Feb. 27.

Arkansas State travels to face Louisiana-Monroe on Saturday. Louisiana-Lafayette returns home to host Texas State the same day.