Greyhounds Rally in Second Half, Punch Ticket to NJCAA Division II National Tournament
WEST MEMPHIS, ARK - The hometown ASU Mid-South Greyhounds are headed to the national stage.
After a tightly contested first half, ASU Mid-South surged in the final 20 minutes to defeat North Central Missouri and capture the Central Plains District Championship, securing a berth in the NJCAA Division II National Tournament in Danville, Illinois.
The Greyhounds wasted no time getting started, jumping out to a quick 7-0 lead that energized the home crowd early. North Central Missouri, however, quickly settled into the game and responded with a run of its own to even things up.
From that point forward, the first half turned into a back-and-forth battle as both teams traded baskets and defensive stops. Neither side could create much separation, and the game remained tight throughout the opening 20 minutes.
Just before the halftime horn, the Pirates grabbed momentum when Za'Corrie Kerr knocked down a three-pointer as time expired, giving North Central Missouri a slim 37-35 lead heading into the break.
Coming out of the locker room, the Greyhounds looked like a different team.
ASU Mid-South turned up the intensity on the defensive end, forcing turnovers and turning them into easy transition opportunities. That defensive pressure sparked a scoring run that allowed the Greyhounds to seize control of the game.
With their offense flowing and the crowd behind them, ASU Mid-South continued to build its advantage throughout the second half. At one point, the Greyhounds pushed their lead to as much as 19 points as their defensive effort fueled fast-break opportunities and consistent scoring.
When the final buzzer sounded, the celebration began as ASU Mid-South claimed the Central Plains District Championship and officially punched its ticket to the NJCAA Division II National Tournament in Danville, Illinois, which begins March 16.
"I'm just incredibly proud of this group," said Greyhounds' head coach Cody Hastings. "At halftime we talked about bringing more energy on the defensive end, and our guys responded. When we defend the way we did in the second half, it allows us to get out and run and play the way we want to play. To see these guys celebrate a championship and earn the chance to go compete in the national tournament is really special. We have talked since day 1 about putting ourself in this situation. Our guys really bought into it, and honestly they did it for each other. They didnt want to let each other down. Just super thrilled to get to coach this group some more."
Camden Bennett led the Pirates in scoring with 19 points, followed closely by Deng Gak with 17. James Porter was the only other North Central Missouri player to reach double figures, finishing with 13 points.
ASU Mid-South was powered by a dominant performance from Phillip Tillman, who poured in a game-high 30 points while adding nine rebounds, five assists, and seven steals.
Jaxson Yancy recorded a double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds, while Randy Emerson provided a spark off the bench with 12 points. Hugh McFarland added 11 points and seven assists, and Dejavius Johnson chipped in 10 points, including two clutch three-pointers in the second half that helped keep the Greyhounds in control.
ASU Mid-South now awaits its postseason placement, as the NJCAA Division II National Tournament selection show is scheduled for Tuesday, March 10 at 5:00 p.m.
