GALLATIN, Tenn. — After a long road trip and a challenging early-season schedule that featured matchups against powerhouse programs Jones College and Pearl River, the South Arkansas College Stars broke through in a big way—earning their first win of the season with a thrilling victory over Vol State.
In his first season leading the program, Head Coach Eric Collins has preached resilience and togetherness, and his team delivered on both. The Stars came out swinging, setting the tone early behind sophomore guard Xavier Meyers, who finished with a game-high 31 points.
The first half saw multiple lead changes as both teams traded baskets. Vol State capitalized on foul trouble and a late run of three-pointers to build a 10-point advantage with just three minutes left in the half. Collins called a critical timeout, and his squad responded immediately—igniting a 12–4 run powered by Braylen Hall (15 pts), Jaden Williams (23 pts), and Jalyn Robinson (17 pts). SouthArk closed the gap to just two at halftime, trailing 54–52.
The Stars carried that momentum into the second half, with Hall’s leadership and court vision fueling a strong offensive push that gave SouthArk a seven-point lead midway through the period. Vol State’s Taylor Groves poured in 28 points to keep the Pioneers within reach, but SouthArk’s poise down the stretch proved the difference.
Timely baskets from Carlos Escalera and clutch free throws from Hall helped secure the win. The exclamation point came in the final seconds—a steal from Hall, a long outlet to Williams, and a soaring alley-oop dunk by Meyers that sealed the victory and ignited the Stars’ bench.
With the 1–2 start, Coach Collins notches his first career win as SouthArk’s head coach. The Stars now turn their focus to a tough road matchup Thursday, November 13, against a red-hot Hinds Community College in Jackson, Mississippi.
Contact:
South Arkansas College Athletics Department
📧 www.southarkstars.com | ☎️ (870) 864-7128