Greyhounds Win Back-to-Back Region Titles
Seven Greyhound players scored in double figures as ASU Mid-South withstood 13 three-pointers from the visiting North Arkansas Pioneers to take a convincing 109-89 victory Saturday at The Dog House to secure their second consecutive NJCAA Region 2 Championship.
Seven Greyhound players scored in double figures as ASU Mid-South withstood 13 three-pointers from the visiting North Arkansas Pioneers to take a convincing 109-89 victory Saturday at The Dog House to secure their second consecutive NJCAA Region 2 Championship.
North Arkansas jumped out to a 6-2 lead and led 14-11 with just over 13 minutes to play in the first half. But an offensive rebound tip-in by Kamron Rose gave the Greyhounds a lead they would not relinquish. ASU Mid-South led 51-40 at the half after the Pioneers hit a three-pointer at the buzzer. Keshaun Davis scored 13 of his 17 points, Rose totaled 10 of his 12 points and Geordan Reed scored all eight of his points in the first half.
The Pioneers would then start the second half with a 7-2 run, but the Greyhounds answered with a 20-6 run of their own and stretched the lead to as many as 24 points on the way to the win.
ASU Mid-South took a 57-35 rebounding advantage and forced 17 North Arkansas turnovers while committing only eight and shooting 45.8% from the field and hitting 27-of-36 free throws (75.0%) for the game.
Terrandus Smith led the Greyhounds with 18 points and seven rebounds while Trevor Banks also pulled down seven boards to go with his 10 points. K.J. Patrick finished with 14 points and six rebounds, Montee Randle scored 11 to go with a team-high three steals, and Jerrick Cole hit for 10 points. Dee Montgomery and Terrikous Smith each dished out four assists.
The victory gives the Greyhounds' eight sophomores (pictured) their second Region 2 Championship as all eight returned from a 20-10 freshman campaign. This is the first class in school history to earn back-to-back region titles and they also have collected the most victories in consecutive seasons.
ASU Mid-South (25-5) now advances to play in the NJCAA District XIII Championship where they will travel to Kansas City, Missouri, to take on host MCC-Penn Valley. The winner advances to the NJCAA Division II National Tournament in Danville, Illinois.