It didn’t matter that Barton Community College’s men’s basketball team held a 16-point lead midway through the second half.
Northwest Kansas Technical College climbed back in, tying the game at 88 with 1:31 remaining.
However, the Cougars closed out the Highland Hotel/Pizza Hut Classic finale on Saturday night at Kirkman Activity Center with a 92-90 victory.
The Mavericks (0-2 overall) took an 89-88 lead as Juan Ortiz sank 1 of 2 free throws. It was Northwest’s first lead since it was up 6-4 in the opening minutes of the game.
In the final minute of the game, it was Al Key cutting to the rim for two points, and Turon Parker sinking a pair of free throws to give the Cougars the edge.
Fouls plagued the Cougars (2-0) in the first half, as Barton head coach Craig Fletchall had to sit four of his five starters in the final 10 minutes of the period.
Both teams finished the first half with 13 fouls apiece.
Key, a 2011 NJCAA third-team All-America selection, punched in a team-leading 26 points. Raphael Stephens scored 16, and Parker and Andell Cumberbatch finished with 13 points each.
Gian Clavell led the Mavs with 30 points.
JUNIOR COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Highland Hotel & Pizza Hut Classic
At Great Bend
Kirkman Activity Center
Saturday
MEN
Barton 92, Northwest Kansas Tech 90
NORTHWEST KANSAS TECH (0-2)
Gian Clavell 8-21 10-11 30, Jeffrey Burgos 6-15 3-6 15, Talan Whitaker 7-12 1-2 15, Marcus Walden 6-12 4-4 16, Juan Ortiz 0-4 1-2 1, Nick Riley 1-5 0-0 2, Markees Walker 0-4 1-2 1, Kayman Garrett 1-1 0-0 3, Isaiah Rodgers 0-0 0-0 0, Lamar Britton 1-1 5-9 7, Jakob Batycki 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 30-75 25-36 90.
BARTON (2-0)
Algie Key 10-16 6-7 26, Turon Parker 3-9 6-8 13, Andell Cumberbatch 3-7 7-11 13, Raphael Stephens 6-8 4-6 16, Raheem Johnson 2-4 1-4 5, Dominique Wilson 2-8 2-2 6, De’Ontae Hooks 0-1 4-6 4, Shaka Thomas 1-3 0-0 2, Travell Robinson 0-1 1-2 1, Andy Wiechman 0-0 0-0 0, Trey Unrau 2-4 0-2 6. Totals 29-61 31-48 92.
Halftime — Barton 49, Northwest Kansas Tech 37. Three-point goals — Barton 3-10 (Unrau 2-3, Parker 1-5, Cumberbatch 0-2); Northwest Kansas Tech 5-15 (Clavell 4-8, Garrett 1-1, Walker 0-3, Ortiz 0-1, Walden 0-1, Burgos 0-1).
