Greyhounds Edged at Southwest Tennessee

ASU Mid-South missed a rushed three-pointer to win and a put-back attempt to tie in falling 76-74 to the Southwest Tennessee Community College Saluqis Tuesday at Verties Sails Gymnasium in Memphis.

The Greyhounds executed well in the first half in building a 36-29 lead, but the Saluqis fought back in the second half to tie the game at 42-42 with 15:20 left. But the teams traded baskets all the way to the 3:52 mark when a Southwest Tennessee free throw broke a 64-64 tie, and ASU Mid-South's T.J. Stewart fouled out on the ensuing possession on a charge call. The Saluqis added one free throw on their next possession and then forced a shot clock violation before hitting a three-pointer off the glass with one second left on the shot clock. The Greyhound bench was assessed a technical foul and the Saluqis added a free throw for a 70-64 lead with 2:11 remaining. Then after forcing consecutive Greyhound turnovers, Southwest hit a transition layup followed by a transition three-pointer to take a commanding 75-64 lead with 1:46 left in the game.

But ASU Mid-South still had some fight left in them as they mounted their comeback, first with two free throws from J.T. Smith, then forcing a Saluqi turnover in the backcourt and hitting O.J. Marrs for a layup on the ensuing possession to cut the lead to 75-68. The Greyhounds then got a stop and regained possession down 7 points with 58.0 seconds left. Braxtyn McCuien then hit a three-pointer, and after another Southwest turnover, J.T. Smith knocked down a trey to cut the lead to 75-74 with 32.3 seconds left. After a foul, the Saluqis hit 1-of-2 from the line and the Greyhounds had a final possession to win or tie with 24.8 seconds remaining in the game. After allowing the clock to wind down, McCuien was rushed into a three-point attempt and Tim Johnson's acrobatic put-back attempt was just off the mark, and Southwest Tennessee escaped with the win.

The Greyhounds (4-7) head to the holiday break having lost their last five games with all five games against NJCAA Division I opponents coming down to within 4 points with less than two minutes to play. ASU Mid-South has also been without returning All-American Sam Smith who is out with a broken foot, and the Greyhounds have yet to play a game with their full squad intact. Next up is a home game against St. Louis Community College on Monday, January 3 before they hit the road the next day at Itawamba Community College and then begin Region 2 play Saturday at Southern Arkansas University Tech.