MOBILE, Ala. (Interstat) — In a Sun Belt Conference clash defined by relentless pressure and a singular, spectacular performance, the South Alabama Jaguars outlasted the Arkansas State Red Wolves 91-87 in overtime Thursday night at the Mitchell Center before a crowd of 2,480.

The game’s defining narrative was the historic outing by South Alabama guard Chaze Harris. The junior from Cleveland, Ohio, poured in a career-high 38 points, shouldering the offensive load for the Jaguars and delivering critical baskets whenever Arkansas State threatened to seize control. Harris added five assists, playing all but five minutes of the contest and shooting 13 of 23 from the field while earning 14 trips to the free-throw line.

Harris’s brilliance was necessary to overcome a gritty Arkansas State squad that battled back from a double-digit second-half deficit and nearly stole the game in regulation. The Red Wolves, despite being plagued by 18 turnovers that South Alabama converted into 24 points, showcased their resilience and shooting depth. Matt Hayman of Delhi, Louisiana, scored 15 points, while Royal Blue Smith from Parkland, Florida, led the team with 18 points, all coming from beyond the arc on 6-of-18 shooting. Jaxon Ellingsworth, a 6-foot-9 forward from Morehead City, North Carolina, also added 18 points and a game-high seven offensive rebounds.

The contest turned decisively on two key statistical disparities: ball security and interior scoring. South Alabama’s defensive pressure, led by 11 team steals, forced those 18 Arkansas State turnovers while committing only four of their own. This staggering +14 turnover margin directly fueled the Jaguars’ transition game, which produced 15 fastbreak points. Furthermore, South Alabama dominated the paint, outscoring Arkansas State 50 to 34, with Harris repeatedly attacking the rim.

Arkansas State established an early lead, using a 9-0 run to go ahead 20-11 midway through the first half. They maintained that advantage for much of the period, taking a 36-32 lead into halftime behind 10 first-half points from Hayman. The Jaguars’ offense, outside of Harris, struggled to find consistency early.

The second half saw a dramatic shift. South Alabama emerged from the locker room with intensified defensive energy, sparking a 15-4 run to open the period. Harris was the catalyst, scoring nine points during the surge as the Jaguars built a 47-40 lead. They extended their advantage to as many as 11 points, at 63-52, with just over nine minutes remaining, capitalizing on a series of Arkansas State miscues.

Facing a significant deficit, the Red Wolves mounted a furious comeback, primarily through the three-point shot. Smith and TJ Caldwell hit crucial threes, and a driving layup by Hayman with 57 seconds left tied the game at 74. After a Randy Brady three-pointer put South Alabama back up 78-75 with 19 seconds remaining, Hayman was fouled on a three-point attempt with 13 seconds left. He calmly sank all three free throws to knot the score at 78.

South Alabama had the final possession of regulation. Following a timeout, Adam Olsen of Surrey, Canada, sank a deep three-pointer at the buzzer to seemingly win the game, but a review determined the shot was released after the clock expired, sending the game to overtime tied at 78.

In the extra period, Harris immediately took over, scoring South Alabama’s first six points to give the Jaguars an 84-80 lead. Arkansas State stayed within striking distance, closing to 88-87 on a Chandler Jackson tip-in with 2:20 left. The Red Wolves then had two possessions to take the lead but came up empty. Harris then delivered the final dagger, driving for a layup with 1:47 left to push the lead to 90-87.

Arkansas State had two more chances to tie but missed three-point attempts by Smith and Christian Harmon. Olsen sealed the victory by making one of two free throws with 10 seconds left for the final four-point margin.

Beyond Harris’s heroics, Olsen finished with 14 points and two blocks for South Alabama. Hantz Louis Jeune added 10 points. For Arkansas State, Chudi Dioramma contributed nine points off the bench.

South Alabama improved to 13-5 overall and 2-1 in Sun Belt play, while Arkansas State fell to 12-6 and 1-2. The Jaguars host Louisiana-Lafayette on Saturday, while the Red Wolves travel to face Troy on the same day. The two teams will meet again in Jonesboro on Feb. 14.

The most critical phase of the game was South Alabama’s commanding start to the second half. After trailing for the majority of the first half, the Jaguars unleashed a decisive 15-4 run out of the break, fueled by Harris’s scoring and a suffocating defense that forced multiple Arkansas State turnovers. This surge transformed a four-point halftime deficit into a seven-point lead, established the game’s tempo in South Alabama’s favor, and forced the Red Wolves to play from behind for the entire second half and overtime, ultimately expending the energy needed to complete the comeback.