Greyhounds pick up a pair of wins

ASU Mid-South rolling in the early going this season

From ASU MID-SOUTH

asumidsouthsports.com

The Arkansas State University Mid-South men’s basketball is off to a hot start. The Greyhounds are 5-1 overall, and on a five game winning streak after a season-opening loss to Jones College last month.

ASU Mid-South 54, ATU 24

The Greyhounds scored 45 field goals on the way to a season-high 99 points in defeating the visiting Arkansas Tech University JV Wonder Boys Monday night at The Dog House in West Memphis, Arkansas. Holding the visitors to 37.5 percent shooting, ASU Mid-South shot 54.2 percent from the field and dominated the boards, 54-24, while dishing out 29 assists and forcing 20 turnovers in the 99-70 victory.

Jailen Anderson led the charge with 17 points on 8-of-14 shooting while Christian Thompson scored 16 on 8-of-11 shooting and T.J. Stewart finished with 15 points while shooting 7-for-10 from the field. Jesse Washington and Je’marion Westbrook both chipped in 11 points while O.J. Marrs finished with 10 points. Chris Martin led the team with 6 assists to go with 7 points, and Braxtyn Mc-Cuien pulled down a gamehigh 11 rebounds.

ASU Mid-South 74, Dyersburg State 73

JesseWashington hit a tough, driving floater in the paint with 3.3 seconds left in overtime to give the Greyhounds a 74-73 victory over the Dyersburg State Community College Eagles Wednesday night in Dyersburg, Tennessee.

The freshman from Jonesboro, Arkansas, came off a screen, reversed direction, and then drove the paint while absorbing contact and finishing with a 6-foot floater without a foul. The Greyhounds then got a turnover on the Eagles’ ensuing possession to preserve the win.

ASU Mid-South broke a 4-4 tie with an 8-0 run early in the first half, and led by as many as 10 points, but Dyersburg State battled back late in the half to close the gap to 33-31 at the half. Another run early in the second half gave the Greyhounds a 7-point lead, 41-34, until an Eagle free throw tied the game at 47-47 with 13:26 left. The Greyhounds would then go in front again only to find the score tied at 54-54 at the 9:00 mark, and Dyersburg State would take a 61-56 lead on a three-pointer with 6:42 left to play in regulation. The Greyhounds would narrow the lead only to find themselves down 66-61 at the 4:00 mark, but with 21.2 seconds remaining Jailen Anderson would hit 1-of-2 free throws and ASU Mid-South got a stop to send the game to the extra period tied at 68-68.

In overtime, the Greyhounds got a Christian Thompson putback to draw first blood, but he fouled out on the ensuing Eagle possession. The Greyhounds’ T.J. Stewart would also foul out in overtime, but Dyersburg State could not capitalize from the free throw line, hitting only 3-of-10 free throws in the extra period. But after Braxtyn McCuien scored on a layup to tie the score at 72-72, the Eagles went 1-of-2 from the line for a 1-point lead with 40.6 seconds remaining. McCuien then missed a three-pointer but Kyrin Dock chased down the long offensive rebound setting up Washington’s game-winner.

Both teams shot in the 37 percent range from the field, and neither team had an edge on the boards at 49-49, but the Greyhounds shot just 5-of-28 (17.9 percent) from the threepoint line. ASU Mid-South did force 14 Dyersburg turnovers while turning it over just 11 times, but were able to capitalize on the Eagles’ 14-of-30 (46.7 percent) performance from the free throw line while hitting 11-of-15 (73.3 percent).

Dyersburg’s Greg Gordon, an NJCAA Third Team All-American selection last season, led the Eagles with 25 points and 14 rebounds, Jalen Brown scored 21 points, and Wynton Brown finished with 10 points and 10 boards.

For the Greyhounds, Jailen Anderson led the way with 25 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Christian Thompson scored 15 points to go with 7 boards, Jesse Washington finished with 14 points, 5 assists, and 3 steals, and T.J. Stewart chipped in 10 points. Braxtyn McCuien led ASU Mid-South on the glass with 11 rebounds while Kyrin Dock collected 10 rebounds to go with 6 points and 4 assists.

Next up, Southwest Tennessee Community College comes to town to take on the Greyhounds as they look to make it six in a row. Tipoff time Wednesday is at 7:30 p.m. following the women’s game at The Dog House.

Marianna native Je’Marion Westbrook (24) dunks over the ATU defense. Westbrook and the Greyhounds are 5-1 to start the 2022-23 season.

Photo courtesy of ASU Mid-South