It was another win for the Barton men’s basketball team that on paper may not look that impressive. The Cougars handed a team in the middle of the conference a loss at the Barton Gym.
No big deal. But there was much more to it. Not only did Barton remain one of two unbeaten teams in Jayhawk Conference play but the Cougars did so impressively.
Barton handed Cowley a 101-82 loss without its star player.
Ezekiel Charles missed the game after suffering an injury during practice. The length of his exile is unknown. But for Saturday at least, the Cougars found ways to replace the 20 points a game the sophomore leader provides.
It was the fourth double figure win in five conference games.
The Cougars are now 5-0 in the Jayhawk and 9-0 overall. That keeps them in a tie with Hutchinson at the top of the conference. Cowley fell to 2-3 in the Jayhawk and 5-4 overall.
So how does one replace its leading scorer? By getting 44 points off a short bench. Freshman Noah Webster scored a career-high 17 off the bench and sophomore John Barbee flirted his best scoring output as a Cougar with 16.
Not only were the points in volume for Webster, they came at crucial times – especially in his 13-point first half.
Down 22-20 the freshman from Buhler High School made back-to-back jumpers in the lane midway through the half to give Barton the lead. Barbee followed with three straight layups and the Cougars had a 30-22 lead.
Barton would not trail again.
The Tigers cut it to 31-27 when Webster broke free down the lane for a 2-handed dunk from the 6-0 guard to spark an 8-1 run with five minutes left in the half.
Barton would hold a double-digit lead for a majority of the final 25 minutes. Cowley did cut it to 62-58 with 14 minutes left in the game but Anthony Smith ended the run with a jumper to start an 8-2 run that pushed the lead back to double figures.
Barton had some impressive stats during the win. The Cougars hit 65 percent from the floor on 39-of-60 shooting. The bench made 18-of-25 shots for 72 percent. Barton turned the ball over just nine times.
In addition to Webster and Barbee, Barton got 15 points and 12 rebounds form Malik Toppin. Toppin controlled the defensive glass with 10 rebounds on that end. Charles Norman and Malik Rhodes added 13 points each.
Cowley was led by Derieko Smith and Miek’l Simms with 17 each.
Barton will travel to Allen County Wednesday to take on the 2-2 Red Devils in an 8 pm tip.

Barton 101, Cowley 82
Cowley 41 41 82
Barton 53 48 101
Cowley (82)
Rembert 1-4 0-0 2, Smith 6-9 3-6 17, Pierce 4-8 1-3 10, D McGee 2-6 0-0 4, Simms 7-11 0-0 17, Jones 3-7 0-0 7, Wright 3-4 1-2 7, Chee 1-2 0-0 3, A McGee 1-4 2-3 4, Mills 2-3 1-2 5, Maccoy 0-1 0-0 0, Harness 1-2 0-0 2, Da Silva 1-1 0-1 2, Spence 1-2 0-2 2. Totals – 33-64 8-19 82.
Barton (101)
Norman 6-8 1-1 13, Rhodes 4-9 5-6 13, Rawley 3-8 1-3 7, Toppin 6-8 3-3 15, Smith 2-2 5-9 9, Barker 2-5 5-6 9, Webster 8-11 1-2 17, Barbee 7-8 1-2 16, Palmer 1-1 0-0 2. Totals – 39-60 22-32 101.
3-pointers –Cowley 8-21 (Simms 3-5, Smith 2-3, Pierce 1-3, Jones 1-3, Chee 1-2, Rembert 0-2, Wright 0-1, Harness 0-1, Spence 0-1). Barton 1-6 (Barbee 1-2, Rawley 0-2, Norman 0-1, Rhodes 0-1).
Rebounds – Cowley 36 (Pierce 6). Barton 32 (Toppin 12). Assists – Cowley 13 (Rembert 3). Barton 9 (Rawley 3). Steals – Cowley 3 (3 with 1). Barton 7 (Barbee 3). Blocks – Cowley 1 (Mills), Barton 2 (Toppin 2).
Turnovers – Cowley 17, Barton 9. Fouled out – None. Technicals – Barton bench.