Pioneers Pull Away Late to Hand Greyhounds Tough Road Loss

Harrison, Ark - ASU Mid-South traveled to North Arkansas for a highly anticipated matchup between two of the top teams in the region, but it was the Pioneers who set the tone early and made the Greyhounds work for every possession in a physical, hard-fought contest.

North Arkansas controlled the first half with effort and toughness, outworking ASU Mid-South over the opening 20 minutes. The Pioneers built a commanding 10-point halftime lead, putting pressure on the Greyhounds heading into the break.

The intensity picked up in the second half, and ASU Mid-South responded with grit and determination. The Greyhounds continued to scratch and claw their way back into the game, slowly chipping away at the deficit. Phillip Tillman delivered a clutch step-back three-pointer to tie the game at 74, igniting hope for a road comeback.

However, from that moment on, it was all North Arkansas. The Pioneers closed the game on a strong run, outscoring ASU Mid-South 23-15 down the stretch to pull away and secure the victory.

North Arkansas was led by a dominant performance from Marquise Burse, who posted 29 points and 13 rebounds while shooting an efficient 12-of-15 from the field. Na'Kylan Starks added a double-double of his own with 20 points and 11 rebounds. Donavan Villarreal finished with 16, while Jaxon Berry, Drew Akins, and KJ Nichols each chipped in nine.

ASU Mid-South was paced by Phillip Tillman with 20 points, followed by Hugh McFarland with 17. Braylon Frazier added 13, Jaxson Yancy finished with 12, and Dejavius Johnson contributed 10. Off the bench, Randy Emerson scored seven and David Brewer added six.

Following the game, head coach pointed to the team's second-half fight, but also emphasized areas that must improve.

"Our guys showed a lot of life in the second half, and I'm proud of how they battled back," Cody Hastings said. "But ultimately, we weren't as good as we needed to be. We have to be more physical, and we have to find ways to get guys involved when they aren't hitting shots. We have to show up ready to play from the jump."

The Greyhounds are back in The Dog House on Wednesday, February 11 as they host Shorter College. Tip-off is set for 6:00.