North Arkansas Scorches Nets to Down Greyhounds
The MSCC Greyhounds may still yet be able to host the Region 2 playoff game at their stunning new facility this season, but they'll have to come through in a must-win situation next month.
By Chuck Livingston
The Evening Times Sports Editor
MSCC Sports Information
The MSCC Greyhounds may still yet be able to host the Region 2 playoff game at their stunning new facility this season, but they'll have to come through in a must-win situation next month.
North Arkansas scorched the nets against MSCC on Saturday afternoon, hitting seven three-pointers in the first half en route to clinching a 73-56 win against their regional rivals from West Memphis.
In addition to North Arkansas' hot shooting, MSCC struggled to a season-low shooting percentage, which made for a long day for the Greyhounds.
"It was one of those games you have to think won't happen again," MSCC head coach Chris Parker said on Sunday. "We got some good looks, but they weren't falling and they couldn't miss in the first half. They had two guys shooting 13 and 25-percent from the arc both go 2-for-2 in the first half. It was just one of those games. They had it and we didn't."
While the Pioneers cooled down a little in the second-half, the Greyhounds still couldn't warm up, shooting a season-low 32.2% from the field for the game to North Arkansas' 49.2%. The Greyhounds also gave up only one three-point field goal in the second half, but their 25% from the arc didn't help.
Parker admitted last week that it would take one of MSCC's best performances of the year to win in Harrison, but MSCC wasn't able to recapture the magic that led to their first-ever postseason win there last February.
Tasmania Jones was the only Greyhound in double figures with 10 points, all coming in the second half. Shaquille Culbreath and Kaylon Tappin finished with 9 points each while Justin Harris scored 7 points and pulled down a team-high 8 rebounds. The North Arkansas bench also held a 24-15 scoring advantage over the Greyhound bench.
"We just need to regroup with road games at Rhodes and Arkansas Baptist this week," Parker said. "We haven't beaten either of these teams on the road in the past, but I feel that we will bounce back and be stronger for it."
MSCC plays at Rhodes College Monday at 2:00pm and takes on Arkansas Baptist in Little Rock Thursday at 8:00pm.