Greyhounds Back on Track with First-Ever Win at Rhodes

By Chuck Livingston

Sports Editor

MSCC Sports Information

Less than two days after dropping a key road game in Harrison against North Arkansas College, the MSCC Greyhounds bounced back in a big way yesterday afternoon.

MSCC (12-8 overall) topped Rhodes College JV 75-57 on the road. It was MSCC's first win against Rhodes College in five meetings, and Greyhounds head coach Chris Parker could barely hide his excitement.

"We played great team defense in the first half, allowing only 20 points in 20 minutes," said the veteran MSCC head coach. "We shot the ball well too. It was our smartest, most complete game of the season, and a great way to bounce back from the loss at North Arkansas."

MSCC led 36-20 at halftime and canned 12-of-14 free throws in the contest, to help salt away a key non-conference victory.

Little Rock Hall product Kaylon Tappin scored 14 points, Tony White hit for 12, Tasmania Jones went for 11 and Justin Harris capped the MSCC double-digit scorers with 10.

Joe Dye finished with nine points and Shaquille Culbreath chipped in seven points for the Greyhounds.

"It really shows the toughness and resolve of our team," Parker said of the win. "They (Rhodes) are very well-coached, they recruit kids to fit their system, they are fundamentally sound and understand how to minimize their weaknesses."

While Parker was impressed with Rhodes' team, he also saw something that he liked from his squad, as well.

"This is the first team that we've had that also understands how to maximize our strengths. Both of our point guards (Tony White and Tevin Brown) did a great job of controlling the tempo and flow of the game."

The win also proved to Parker that his team is mentally strong, an important trait for players in the MSCC program.

"The ability to bounce back as strongly as we did is a good sign that we are able to focus on what we can control and let go of the past, which we cannot control," explained Parker after the game. "That's a great thing to see, both in basketball and life."

MSCC hits the road again Thursday to play Arkansas Baptist College in Little Rock. The trip will be a doubleheader featuring a women's game at 6:00pm with the men to follow.

The Greyhounds return home to The Dog House on Saturday, January 31 to play West Kentucky CTC for a 3 p.m. tip.