Nighthawks Soar Past Greyhounds Late

The Greyhounds hosted #3 Nighthawks from National Park College in The Dog House, but it was the Nighthawks who pulled away late and won the first matchup of the season 80-64.

"We executed our game plan for about 31-32 minutes, but we got away from it the last 7 or so minutes and National Park took advantage of it. One of the things I told them before the game was that we have to stay calm, stay poised and not let them rattle us when they go on their runs. We got away from what was working and tried to do a little too much and make a home run play instead of just executing doing what we've done all night. In the locker room you could just tell how bad these guys wanted it and they gave everything they could. They're the #3 team in the nation for a reason, if not the best team in the nation. We had our opportunities, but we just have to keep executing and do what we do no matter what they do. We'll watch film tomorrow and see where things went wrong, but I couldn't be more proud of our guys. We're so close, we just have to understand that we're a good team as well." head coach Cody Hastings had to say after the game.

Davonta Tucker would start the scoring in the game as he would knock down a pair of free throws, followed by a Kyrin Dock pull up in the first minute to give the Greyhounds a quick 4-0 start, but NPC's Taylor Harrell would quickly respond in less than 5 seconds to give the Nighthawks their first points of the contest. Both teams would continue to go back and forth before the Greyhounds would take the first double digit lead off a Jesse Washington 3 pointer giving Mid-South a 21-11 advantage with just over 12 minutes remaining in the first half. NPC would cut the deficit to one on an Anthony Swift layup with 8:08 remaining in the first half. It would stay close throughout the remaining of the half as the Greyhounds would take a 34-32 into intermission. 

Both teams would come out firing to begin the second half as both teams scored on their opening two possesions. NPC would quickly regain the lead on a back door layup from Patrick Punch. NPC would push their lead up to 3 of a pair of free throw's by Taylor Harrell, before Jesse Washington would connect from deep to tie the game at 44. Chris Martin would find a cutting Jesse Washington to push the Greyhounds lead to 5 with just under 9 minutes remaining in the game. The lead wouldn't last long as reigning Region 2 MVP Nakavieon White would find Patrick Punch in the corner to give the Nighthawks the 55-53 lead with 7:17 remaining in the game. NPC would not trail again in the game. The Nighthawks would use a 25-11 run to close the game within the last 7 minutes to drown any chance of a comeback for the Greyhounds.

The Greyhounds were led by Jesse Washington's 26 points. Je'Marion Westbrook had 13 as well as Davonta Tucker who also pulled down 7 rebounds. Kyrin Dock pitched in 8 points, 7 rebounds, and also tied a game high 7 assists.

ASU Mid-South drops to 10-8 on the season and 1-1 in region play. The Greyhounds travel to De Queen, Arkansas Monday, January 15 as they take on UA Cossatot. Tip-off is set for 7:30. Mid-South will then be back in The Dog House as they host Shorter College Thursday, January 18.