Dyondre Dominguez totals 18 points and 9 rebounds to earn first win as head coach for Bryan Hodgson

Coach Bryan Hodgson, looking for some instant fire from the team, had hinted he would mix up the starting line-up tonight, and true to his word, he started Taryn Todd and Lado Laku over Izaiyah Nelson and Caleb Fields. However, the team didn’t seem to regain its synchronicity until Nelson and Fields returned to the court.

It wasn’t a packed house for Alcorn State, but it was a good showing, and the student section was eledtric wearing hard hats and “3” signs, erupting at all the appropriate moments, for which there was many. “Having the student section there, it was a fun atmosphere,” said Dyondre Dominguez, who’s 18 points led all scorers.

Adding to the crowd’s good cheer was the season’s first appearance of Green County Tech alum and Paragould native Zane Butler, who nailed a three-pointer after his first jumper proved too hot to register. Another local favorite, The Sultan of Searcy, Freddy Hicks, piled up 14 points and six board, and the Mayor of Bono, Avery Felts, recorded 12. Human Points Machine Taryn Todd, who scored 31 versus Bowling Green, added 17 more to his resume.

The Red Wolves closed the first half 48-34, but there was enough left on the floor to cause some disquiet among those looking for disquiet. For example, Alcorn State out-rebounded A-State 20-14. Also, the Red Wolves seemed obsessed with perimeter shooting. At the half, 69% of A-State’s point came from the three-ball (only 21% of points originated from the paint). Furthermore, the defense is still not ready for conference play. At the half, Alcorn State shot 47% (50% from the three point line).

However, a different team emerged from the tunnel for the second half, as though a surly Coach Hodgson had simply growled “more energy” in his halftime speech. Dyondre Dominguez provided the spark, grabbing the hard boards boards – and at one point nailing a three, collecting a steel, and slamming it home in the space of ten seconds. Hicks and Lado had a dunk contest in the opening minutes of the second half, and the defense became a whirlwind of blocked shots and force turnovers. Zane Butler also nailed some more three-pointers, which made everybody very happy.

Midway through the second half, the Red Wolves lead was up past twenty. At the five minute mark, the Red Wolves were kinda just goofing around, allowing Alcorn State to reduce the deficit to sub-20 while the Mayor of Bono (Avery Felts) and the Prince of Paragould (Butler) attempted out-three each other. Both would finish the game with four three-ball apiece. It was fun.

ON SCORING 100 POINTS FOR THE THIRD CONSECUTIVE HOME GAME: “We should get 80 or above, every home game.” – Dyondre Dominguez.

ON ZANE BUTLER: “Zane works hard every day, and what he did on the court shows that.” – Taryn Todd

ON PLAYNG IOWA NEXT: “Same intensity tonight is what we want to have for the rest of the season.” – Dominguez

ON WHAT WAS SAID AT HALFTIME: “We talked about winning the first four minutes. But you have to remember, Alcorn State is a team that competes.” – Coach Hodgson

ON GETTING HIS FIRST WIN AS A HEAD COACH: “It’s exciting. I hate that it took out third game to get here, but I’m happy that it happened in front of the home crowd.” – Coach Hodgson

PHOTO CREDIT IS MINE