Varnado, Walker lead as Troy upsets Arkansas State 81-72

Mar 2, 2017, 11:43 pm

TROY, Ala. -- Jordon Varnado and DeVon Walker combined for 38 points and Troy upset Arkansas State 81-72 in a wire-to-wire win on Thursday night, securing its first winning season in seven years.

Arkansas State, second in the Sun Belt, lost for the second time in four games while Troy (17-14, 9-8) ended a two-game slide.

Varnado shot 7 for 9 from the floor for 20 points and Walker scored 18 on 6-for-9 shooting. Varnado had nine points and Walker 11 in the first half as the Trojans grabbed a 34-27 halftime lead, making 13 field goals with eight assists.

Troy led by as many as 20 in the second half and got 14 points and nine boards from Jeremy Hollimon and 11 points and five assists from Wesley Person.

Tamas Bruce led Arkansas State (20-10, 11-6) with 16 points and Devin Carter scored 14 before fouling out, but the Red Wolves made just 26 of 77 field goals (34 percent) and were 4 of 20 on 3-pointers.