To say that Greyhound Men's Basketball team has played a competitive non-conference schedule this year would be an understatement, seven of the ten team the Greyhounds have faced are tough NJCAA Division one programs, the likes of #3 nationally ranked Coffeyville, Northern Oklahoma Enid, Northern Oklahoma-Tonkawa, #6 nationally Vincennes, Mineral Area and Cowley Community College are some of the colleges that the Greyhounds have played.

 

The tournament over the Thanksgiving break was no different in the competition level for the Greyhounds, the Greyhounds played the host team Mineral Area College the first night who came in with a record of 6-1. The contest was up and down most of the night, Mineral Area took a ten point lead half way thru the second half and it looked as though the Greyhound might be done for however, after a timeout the Greyhound mounted a comeback and pulled within four points with 45 seconds left in the game. A deflected pass during the press by the Greyhounds, found Kannon Jones open with a three point attempt that would have brought the Greyhounds within one point with twenty seconds to go rimmed in and out and the Greyhounds had to foul Mineral Area and they converted the free throws and won the game by six points.

 

"The scoring on the night was well balanced with six players having double figures but we have to work on getting key defensive stops and making key free throws. Right now we are still trying to figure out who we are on a nightly basis, but we are growing and heading in the right direction, stated Head Coach Michael Cook.

 

The next night the Greyhounds faced the #6 ranked Vincennes Trailblazers, the Trailblazers came in undefeated and were up to the task to stop the Greyhounds. From the beginning Vincennes showed why they were nationally ranked and jumped put to a quick lead and closed the half with a 23 point lead. The Hounds could not get closer than that on the evening and would lose the game 89-52.

 

"Vincennes was probably the most talented team we have faced this year, there were some good things that we did in the game. I like that we competed the second half and the bench was executing on the offensive end and we will get better from these games and it will show as we get into conference play the second semester," stated Head Coach Michael Cook.