Greyhounds Rain Threes, Pull Away from Nighthawks for Conference Win

WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. — ASU Mid-South bounced back in a big way Saturday night, knocking down 15 three-pointers and playing stout second-half defense to secure a double-digit victory over National Park College in conference action.

The Greyhounds' ability to stretch the floor proved to be the deciding factor, as they converted 15 of their 34 attempts from beyond the arc. National Park countered with a clear advantage inside, shooting an impressive 55 percent from the field by consistently scoring in the paint, but the perimeter shooting of ASU Mid-South ultimately tilted the game in the home team's favor.

The first half was a back-and-forth affair filled with high-flying action and momentum swings. Both teams traded baskets throughout the opening 20 minutes, but timely shooting from deep allowed the Greyhounds to take a slim seven-point lead into the halftime break.

Offense was harder to come by in the second half, as both teams cooled off. That slowdown favored ASU Mid-South, whose defensive intensity picked up noticeably. The Greyhounds closed off driving lanes, limited second-chance opportunities, and forced the Nighthawks to work for every look, gradually extending the lead and keeping National Park at arm's length.

Jaxson Yancy was the catalyst for ASU Mid-South, stepping up with a sharpshooting performance from long range. Yancy connected on seven of his 15 attempts from three-point range, finishing with a team-high 28 points to go along with four rebounds and five assists.

National Park was led by a game-high 30 points from Kaharie Loggins. Pete Moe recorded a double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds, while Jeremy Dixon added 17 points in the loss.

ASU Mid-South received contributions up and down the lineup. Taylor Conner finished with 18 points, while Phillip Tillman added 17 points, four rebounds, four assists, and six steals. Hugh McFarland posted another double-double with 12 points and 11 assists, while also pulling down seven rebounds and collecting four steals. Braylon Frazier provided a spark off the bench with 12 points and five rebounds.

After the game, the Greyhounds' coaching staff credited the team's response following an earlier setback. "I felt like we let one go Wednesday, but I am proud of the way our guys came out and battled today," head coach Cody Hastings said. "Our guys found different ways to win tonight, whether it was making shots, getting stops, or doing the little things. Especially ended with 25 assists on 35 made baskets. We got back to playing our brand of basketball, and it was great to see."

With the win, ASU Mid-South improves to 13-6 overall and 6-2 in conference play.

The Greyhounds will be back on the road Wednesday, January 21, as they travel to face UA Cossatot. Tip-off is scheduled for 5:30 p.m.