The Jayhawk Conference basketball season is much like a marathon this year. Instead of 26 miles it is 26 games. The longest of any conference in America.
The Barton men got that season off on the right foot Saturday night at the Community Building in Colby. Barton won by double figures, beating Colby, 82-71.
“It’s a long conference season,” Coach Craig Fletchall said. “The better start you can get off to the better off you are going to be. Getting a road win against a very good Colby team is a good start for this group.”
The Cougars remained unbeaten with the win at 5-0 and now 1-0 in the Jayhawk. It was the first loss for Colby, falling to 4-1 and 0-1.
The first 10 minutes of the contest was a tight affair before the Cougars opened things up a bit at 38-29 late in the half. But a flurry by Colby cut the margin to just three at intermission, 39-36.
The Cougars immediately re-established their lead to start the second half. Barton used a 12-3 run to open the half to grab a 51-40 lead. The lead grew to 65-50 and eventually 71-54. Colby never got the lead under 10 the rest of the way.
Ezekiel Charles continued his good early season play with 22 points to pace the Barton offensive attack. Charles was a perfect 9-for-9 at the free throw line.
Three more Cougars reached double figures on the night. Keeshawn Palmer and Malik Rhodes did so off the Barton bench, scoring 14 and 13. Charles Norman added 11. Anthony Smith led Barton with seven rebounds.
Colby was led by Shaq Athie with 16. David Hall added 13 and Caleal Walker 11.
Barton will play its Jayhawk home opener Wednesday. Garden City, fresh off a 105-82 win over Butler, will bring a perfect 5-0 record to the Barton Gym.

Barton 82, Colby 71
Barton 39 43 82
Colby 36 35 71
Barton (82)
Norman 5-12 1-2 11, Rawley 2-6 2-2 6, Toppin 2-4 2-2 6, Smith 2-5 4-7 8, Charles 6-17 9-9 22, Rhodes 3-8 6-7 13, Palmer 4-6 6-8 14, Barker 0-1 0-0 0, Barbee 1-1 0-0 3, Poole 0-1 0-0 0. Totals – 25-62 30-37 82.
Colby (71)
Athie 4-13 8-9 16, Hall 3-14 7-9 13, Smith 0-2 0-0 0, Gyamfi 2-2 0-0 4, Walker 4-7 3-6 11, Young 2-4 0-0 5, Shaw 1-8 2-2 5, Chavis 1-8 2-2 4, Carmichael 4-7 1-2 9, Travor 2-5 0-2 4, Gross 0-0 0-0 0. Totals – 23-70 23-32 71.
3-pointers – Barton 3-16 (Barbee 1-1, Charles 1-4, Rhodes 1-5, Rawley 0-3, Norman 0-2, Poole 0-1). Colby 2-15 (Young 1-2, Shaw 1-4, Chavis 0-3, Smith 0-2, Athie 0-1, Hall 0-1, Walker 0-1, Carmichael 0-1).
Rebounds – Barton 53 (Smith 7), Colby unavailable. Assists –Barton 5 (Rhodes 2). Colby unavailable. Steals –Barton 3 (3 with 1). Colby unavailable. Blocks – Barton 4 (4 with 1), Colby unavailable.
Turnovers – Barton 18, Colby unavailable. Fouled out – Toppin, Barton. Technicals – Smith, Barton.