Buzzer-Beater Lifts Greyhounds Past Highland (KS)
The Greyhounds' Terrandus Smith's 3-pointer hit nothing but net as the buzzer sounded, giving the Greyhounds a 68-66 elimination-game victory at the NJCAA National Tournament in Danville, Illinois.
March 23, 2018
2018 NJCAA DII MEN'S NATIONAL BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
(10) Highland Community College SCOTTIES (Highland, KS) 26-8
VS
(14) Arkansas State University Mid-South GREYHOUNDS (West Memphis, AR) – 28-6
For immediate release: Friday, March 23, 2018
Danville, IL – Game 19 featured an elimination game of the 2018 Division II NJCAA Men's Basketball Tournament between No. 10 seed Highland Community College and No. 14 seed Arkansas State University Mid-South.
The first half was a series of runs, where both teams scored in bunches before the other team would counter and go on a run of their own. It started with Arkansas State, who started the game on and 8-2 run in the first four minutes. Alonzo Williams and Taiveyhon Mason would score the first 12 points for Highland and from 15:32 to 12:00, the Scotties scored 12 unanswered points taking a 14-8 lead. Arkansas State went scoreless for over four minutes.
The teams traded points for the next four minutes with Highland leading 24-15 at the 7-minute mark. From that point on, Arkansas would control the rest of the half. Trevor Banks and Dee Montgomery led the Greyhounds on a 22-5 run to end the half. The pair scored 16 of the 22 points taking an eight-point lead into the half, 37-29.
HALFTIME SCORE:
Highland – 29
Arkansas State - 37
1st HALF LEADERS:
Highland:
# 12 Jaylin Rutherford, 6'1 So. – 5pts, 3rebs, 3-3 FT
#11 Alonzo Williams, 6'5 So. – 8pts, 4-5 FG
#3 Holden Redparth, 6'5, So. – 3pts, 6pts
#2 Taiveyhon Mason, 5'10, Fr. – 4pts, 2rebs
Arkansas State:
#10 Dee Montgomery, 5'11, So. – 10pts, 4asts, 2 3PTM
#13 Trevor Banks, 6'7, So. – 12pts, 4rebs, 5-5 FG
#23 Montee Randle, 6'4, So. – 8pts, 4rebs, 2asts, 2 3PTM
The first four minutes was much of the same from the first half. A 7-0 spurt from Highland brought them back in the game, putting the Scotties down three, 39-36.
The Greyhounds scored six of their own after that and retained a nine-point lead, 45-36. Sure enough the Scotties would make a push. For five scoreless minutes for Arkansas State, Highland scored 11 points and took a two-point lead 47-45.
The rest of the game, the teams would trade buckets more consistently. Mason and Holden Redparth scored 25 of the Scotties last 28 points while Banks and K.J. Patrick led Arkansas. The game remained within one possession from the 13:46 mark until the 2:27 mark when a three pointer from Redparth gave Highland a six-point advantage, 64-58.
Six straight points for the Greyhounds put them back in front, which included a big three from Patrick and the go-ahead bucket from Montee Randle. With the lead changing hands nine times in the half, the game came down to the final possessions.
Down 65-64 with 45 seconds left, Mason drove the right side into contact and finished to regain a one-point lead for Highland, 66-65. Arkansas' Terrandus Smith, who scored 11 points, all in the second half, drove in with less than 10 seconds left, his attempt came off the front of the rim and Arkansas fouled Mason with 7.1 left.
Mason stepped to the line and missed both free throws. The rebound came to the Greyhounds who threw the ball up the left side of the court to Smith, who triggered deep from the left wing just over the hand of Highland's defender.
As the horn sounded, the ball dropped straight through the net and Smith turned and laid face down on the floor, relishing the moment. The final score: Arkansas 68, Highland 66.
Arkansas State University Mid-South will advance to play the Winner of Game 20: Danville Area Community College vs. Erie Community College in the fifth place game on Saturday at 2:00pm. Highland Community College is eliminated from the 2018 NJCAA Division II Men's Basketball National Tournament.
FINAL SCORE:
Highland – 66
Arkansas State - 68
TEAM LEADERS:
Highland:
# 12 Jaylin Rutherford, 6'1 So. – 7pts, 3rebs
#11 Alonzo Williams, 6'5 So. – 9pts, 6rebs, 2stls
#3 Holden Redparth, 6'5, So. – 17pts, 10rebs, 4-8 3PT
#2 Taiveyhon Mason, 5'10, Fr. – 16pts, 7rebs, 7-16 FG
Arkansas State:
#13 Trevor Banks, 6'7, So. – 14pts, 8rebs, 6-7 FG
#12 Terrandus Smith, 6'4, So. – 11pts, 5-15 FG
#10 Dee Montgomery, 5'11, So. – 10pts, 6asts, 2 3PTM
#23 Montee Randle, 6'4, So. – 10pts, 6rebs, 3ast, 2stls
#30 K.J. Patrick, 6'6, So. – 10pts, 7rebs, 2stls