PRATT — Coming on the heels of the first loss of December, the Barton men’s basketball was out to get back in the win column.

It looked as if that would happen for much of the contest Saturday at Lesh Arena in Pratt.

But Barton blew double digits leads in both halves - the latest an 11-point lead with nine minutes to play.

It was Pratt that captured the Jayhawk Conference contest, using a 15-3 run in the second half to pick up a 75-72 win.

The Cougars are now just 2-5 in the Jayhawk and 8-5 overall. Pratt moved ahead of the Cougars in the standings at 3-4 and 8-6 overall.

“We have to find more ways to score the ball,” Coach Jeremy Coombs said. “We are in scramble mode right now. We have to be able to close out ball games. They just have to get it done and they aren’t.”

Barton jumped to an early lead in the game and did not trail again until 2:44 remained in the contest.

Following a 3-pointer by Pratt’s Nasan Ayala on the game’s first possession, the Cougars went on a 16-0 run.

Evans Kipruto and Modibo Sanogo each scored a bucket then Cougar Downing scored the next five and following his 3-pointer, Barton had a 9-3 lead just more than three minutes in.

A Pratt timeout didn’t slow Barton. Kipruto scored another basket and Hannes Saar hit a trey to give the Cougars a 14-3 lead. The 16-0 run ended on Kipruto’s third basket to give Barton a 16-3 lead with 14:34 left in the opening half.

Pratt responded with a run of its own, cutting the lead to 17-12.

The game of runs saw Barton quickly push the lead back to double figures before Pratt took its turn.

Trailing 26-15, Pratt went on a 13-2 run to even the game at 28-all before the Cougars closed out 13-6 run, keyed by a 4-play from Downing, to go to half up 41-34.

The second half progressed much like the first. Barton would open the lead to double figures then Pratt would whittle it down.

The Cougars lead hit 11 at 47-36 on a Saar layup three minutes in. Barton then went four minutes without a point but Pratt could only muster five of its own to make it 47-41. The Beavers had four possessions to get it lower but failed to score.

Barton again pushed it to 11, 55-44, with just less than 10 minutes to play. Then Barton hit another scoring drought.

The Beavers cut the lead to a single digit, 59-58 following an Eric Rhymes 3-pointer with 4:14 to play.

Pratt took its first lead since 3-0 after a pair of Harrison Eghan free throws for a 60-59 advantage with 2:44 to play.

Pratt never trailed again. The Cougars tied the game a couple times but were not able to take the lead back.

The Beaver led reached four with 42 seconds left as Pratt’s run hit 15-3.

It became a free throw shooting contest for Pratt after that. A contest Pratt, mainly Cam Morris, handled quite well. Morris went 6-for-6 and Pratt went 9-of-10 as a team to secure the win.

Downing led Barton with 18 points followed by Saar with 14.

Four Beavers hit double figures led by Ayala with 18. Morris hit 10-of-11 free throws for 12 points to go with 12 rebounds.

The first semester will end Monday when No. 19 Butler comes to the Barton Gym for a 7:30 pm tip.

“Butler is better than the last two opponents we’ve played and it’s a short turnaround,” Coach Coombs said. “We need a win. It will be a lot better going into Christmas.”

Pratt 75, Barton 72

Barton 41  31 — 72

Pratt    34  41 — 75

Barton 8-4, 2-4 (72)

Downing 7-20 1-1 18, Saar 4-10 5-7 14, Hughes 3-4 0-0 6, Kipruto 4-12 1-2 9, Sanogo 1-6 0-0 2, Rolfs 0-0 0-0 0, Bates 2-5 2-3 6, Locandro 1-5 0-0 3, Thompson 2-5 2-4 6, Robinson 2-2 0-0 5, Jordan 1-1 0-0 3. Totals 27-70 11-17 72.

Pratt 8-5, 3-4 (75)

Eghan 2-13 6-8 10, Ayala 8-14 0-2 18, Weston 0-1 0-0 0, Thomas 5-13 2-2 13, Morris 1-8 10-11 12, Bailey 0-2 0-0 0, Young 0-1 0-0 0, Rhymes 5-9 0-0 13, Eziukwu 2-6 5-6 9, Metcalf 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 23-69 23-29 75.

3-pointers -- Barton 7-18 (Downing 3-9, Robinson 1-1, Jordan 1-1, Saar 1-2, Locandro 1-4, Thompson 0-1). Pratt 6-19 (Rhymes 3-4, Ayala 2-3, Thomas 1-4, Weston 0-1, Bailey 0-1, Young 0-1).

Rebounds - Barton 33 (Sanogo 8), Pratt 45 (Morris 12); Assists - Barton 18 (Saar 4, Hughes 4), Pratt 16 (Rhymes 6). Steals - Barton 3 (Downing 2), Pratt 6 (Eghan 2, Rhymes 2). Blocks - Barton 7 (Kipruto 3), Pratt 6 (Morris 3).

Turnovers - Barton 11, Pratt 16; Fouled out - Hughes, Barton. Technicals - Bates, Barton; Ayala, Pratt.