ASU Mid-South avenges loss to UA-Cossatot with playoff win

Greyhounds top Colts to advance in Region 2 postseason tournament

From Arkansas State University Mid-South

asumidsouthsports.com

The Greyhounds and Colts met just 4 days ago in De Queen, Arkansas which saw the Colts take an 87-78 victory. This time, the winner would move on to the next round and the losing teams season was over. The Greyhounds held on to a 67-65 victory over the Colts.

'I told the guys on Saturday that we did what we wanted to try and win that game, but we also held onto a couple things that we didn't want to show them to save for tonight. We switched up defenses and threw some looks at them that we haven't and it benefited us. Offensively, we put in a new set yesterday and our guys executed it perfectly to help us get good open looks from how they were guarding ball screens. I thought we played hard. We have to correct those last 5 minutes where we let them get too close for comfort, but we just have to keep doing what put us in that situation. We responded well to adversity. We will definitely be on that free throw line tomorrow. Our best free throw shooters going 1/4 down the stretch can't happen. Luckily it didn't cost us tonight, but I'm going to have to give them sacastic critisism to put a smile on their face. Survive and advance, and I'm excited we get to go to practice tomorrow and prepare for National Park.' Head coach Cody Hastings had to say after the game.

Je'Marion Westbrook got things going for the Greyhounds as he would knock down the first two 3 pointers for ASU Mid-South. The Greyhounds would hold a lead until the Colts would tie the game at 11 with just over 13 minutes remaining in the first half. Cossatot would take their first lead of the game on a Kaharie Loggins free throw.

Both teams would trade baskets, before Samuel Chapin would hit a 3 in transition to give the Greyhounds back to lead for good. Jesse Washington would pick up his 2nd foul with 6:54 left in the first half and would have to sit the remainder of the half. Coming out of the timeout, the Colts would try to in bound the ball with 6 players on the floor resulting in a technical foul, which Darren Wallace would go and hit both free throws.

ASU Mid-South would then take a 12 point lead on a Davonta Tucker and one off a offensive rebound and pass from Kyrin Dock. Cossatot's Dylan Glover would hit a 3 of his own off an offensive rebound for his only 3 of the game after hitting eight 3's in a the first matchup of these two teams. ASU Mid-South would take a 39-32 lead into the half.

The Colts got out to a quick 4-0 run as they would get to the free throw line, and turn the Greyhounds over to get an easy dunk in transition turn that 7 point halftime led to just 3. The Greyhounds quickly responded as Davonta Tucker was able to go to the foul line where he went 1 of 2 then the ensuing possession receive a beautiful pass from Jesse Washington for the layup. Kyrin Dock would give the Greyhounds another double digit lead as he put the moves on a Colts defender to get to an elbow jumper knocking it down with 15 minutes remaining. Je'Marion Westbrook would give Mid-South their biggest lead of the game leading the Colts 52-37 with just under 13 minutes remaining in the game. Cossatot started to turn the pressure up against the Greyhounds as they would force back to back

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turnovers cutting the Greyhounds to 5. The Greyhounds would keep responding, using the free throw line to their advantage. Both teams would continue to battle back and forth as it was the Greyhounds defense that would force two charges against the Colts in the final minute of play. The Greyhounds would only hit 1 of 4 free throws down the stretch only giving them a 2 point lead with 3.1 seconds remaining. Cossatot's Dylan Glover had a shot at the end to win it but came up short giving the Greyhounds a 67-65 victory.

ASU Mid-South was led by Jesse Washington's double double only scoring 11 points, but pulling down a game high 12 rebounds. Je'Marion Westbrook led the Greyhounds in scoring with 19 scoring 11 of those from the free throw line. Davonta Tucker rounded out the Greyhounds double figure scorers with 12. Freshman Darren Wallace and Samuel Chapin both had 9. Kyrin Dock only scored 2 points, but tied a game high with 4 assists.

Up Next

The Greyhounds advance to the NJCAA Region 2 Semifinals where they will face the #1 seed and #1 team in the country, the National Park Nighthawks. The game with be on Friday, March 1 at 6:00. The game will be played at Rhodes-Reaves Fieldhouse on the campus of Harding University in Searcy, Arkansas.