Washington Hits Game-Winner in Overtime to Down Dyersburg State

Jesse Washington hit a tough, driving floater in the paint with 3.3 seconds left in overtime to give the Greyhounds a 74-73 victory over the Dyersburg State Community College Eagles Wednesday night in Dyersburg, Tennessee.

The freshman from Jonesboro, Arkansas, came off a screen, reversed direction, and then drove the paint while absorbing contact and finishing with a 6-foot floater without a foul. The Greyhounds then got a turnover on the Eagles' ensuing possession to preserve the win.

ASU Mid-South broke a 4-4 tie with an 8-0 run early in the first half, and led by as many as 10 points, but Dyersburg State battled back late in the half to close the gap to 33-31 at the half. Another run early in the second half gave the Greyhounds a 7-point lead, 41-34, until an Eagle free throw tied the game at 47-47 with 13:26 left. The Greyhounds would then go in front again only to find the score tied at 54-54 at the 9:00 mark, and Dyersburg State would take a 61-56 lead on a three-pointer with 6:42 left to play in regulation. The Greyhounds would narrow the lead only to find themselves down 66-61 at the 4:00 mark, but with 21.2 seconds remaining Jailen Anderson would hit 1-of-2 free throws and ASU Mid-South got a stop to send the game to the extra period tied at 68-68.

In overtime, the Greyhounds got a Christian Thompson putback to draw first blood, but he fouled out on the ensuing Eagle possession. The Greyhounds' T.J. Stewart would also foul out in overtime, but Dyersburg State could not capitalize from the free throw line, hitting only 3-of-10 free throws in the extra period. But after Braxtyn McCuien scored on a layup to tie the score at 72-72, the Eagles went 1-of-2 from the line for a 1-point lead with 40.6 seconds remaining. McCuien then missed a three-pointer but Kyrin Dock chased down the long offensive rebound setting up Washington's game-winner.

Both teams shot in the 37% range from the field, and neither team had an edge on the boards at 49-49, but the Greyhounds shot just 5-of-28 (17.9%) from the three-point line. ASU Mid-South did force 14 Dyersburg turnovers while turning it over just 11 times, but were able to capitalize on the Eagles' 14-of-30 (46.7%) performance from the free throw line while hitting 11-of-15 (73.3%).

Dyersburg's Greg Gordon, an NJCAA Third Team All-American selection last season, led the Eagles with 25 points and 14 rebounds, Jalen Brown scored 21 points, and Wynton Brown finished with 10 points and 10 boards.

For the Greyhounds, Jailen Anderson led the way with 25 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Christian Thompson scored 15 points to go with 7 boards, Jesse Washington finished with 14 points, 5 assists, and 3 steals, and T.J. Stewart chipped in 10 points. Braxtyn McCuien led ASU Mid-South on the glass with 11 rebounds while Kyrin Dock collected 10 rebounds to go with 6 points and 4 assists.

Next up is another game on the road in Paragould, Arkansas, as the Greyhounds take on Crowley's Ridge College JV Monday before hosting Southwest Tennessee Community College Wednesday at 7:30pm following the women's game.