Greyhounds off to a slow start in 2024-25 season

ASU Mid-South men’s hoops 0-3 in early going

From ASU Mid-South

arsumidsouthsports.com

Three games into the season the Arkansas State University Mid-South men’s basketball team is having trouble finding that winning formula. The Greyhounds are 0-3 to start their 2024-25 campaign.

Rangers 77, Greyhounds 57

Day two of the Greyhound Tip-Off Classic as the host ASU Mid-South Greyhounds would host Northwest Mississippi in the final game of the weekend.

After both teams dropped their opening game the night before, both teams would look to bounce back and end the weekend on a high note. That is exactly what happened for the Rangers from Northwest Mississippi as they would walk away with a 77-57 win over the ASU Mid-South Greyhounds. “We’re in a funk right now. I have not done a good enough job getting us locked in and focused on the task at hand. There is nobody to blame for how we played this weekend except for myself. I truly believe our guys are doing everything they can to win. I have to be more composed and make sure our confidence stays high. I got away from that and focused on the wrong things, and that hurt our team. It was selfish of me, and I will be better for the sake of our guys. They deserve better. We will get it corrected, and get back on track and get this train rolling.” Greyhounds head coach Cody Hastings said after the game.

The game would be close for most of the first half before the Rangers would steal a pass and get a dunk right before the first half buzzer sounded giving the Rangers a commanding 44-27 lead going into the half. The 2nd half would be a lot tighter as the Greyhounds would cut the lead to 10 with over 10 minutes remaining in the game, but that would be as close as they would get before the Rangers would finish the last 10 minutes strong pushing their lead to 20.

For the second game in a row the Greyhounds opponent would shoot just under 50% from the floor, as they would struggle again only shooting 31% for the game. It was another game of getting dominated in the paint as the Rangers would outscore the Greyhounds by 26 points in the paint.

Indians 101, Greyhounds 70

ASU Mid-South hit the road to Fulton, Mississippi to take on the Indians of Itawamba Community College still searching for their first win of the new season. Unfortunately for the Greyhounds, their early season struggles continue. “Something isn’t working, and I need to get with our staff and figure out what we need to do for these guys.

We’ve been awful offensively, and even worse defensively so it’s back to the drawing board and probably just need to simplify everything at the moment. We have great players that all bring something important to the table, I just feel like I haven’t been putting them in the right spots for them to do what they do best.” head coach Cody Hastings said quickly after the loss.

The Greyhounds would start quick out the gate scoring the first 4 points of the game in less than a minute into action before the Indians decided to go on a quick run of their own. Itawamba would start to widen the margin little by little before a little run late in the first half capped off by an Santana Spivey 3 pointer right before the buzzer sounded to cut the lead to 13 after trailing by more than 20. Spivey picked up right where he left off drilling another 3 to start the 2nd half cutting the lead to 10, but that was as close as the Greyhounds would get as the Indians would quickly push the lead to 20. Before it was all said and done, Itawamba would end up taking the 31 point win in their

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season opener.

There will be a rematch on the horizon. ASU Mid-South will host Itawamba on November 21 scheduled for a 7:30 tip.

The Greyhounds are back in action this weekend, as they head to Quincy, Illinois, to play in the John Wood Classic at John Wood Community College. Game One is set for 3 p.m. in Quincy.