The final score was not indicative of just how close the game was.
The Barton men’s basketball team escaped a battle at the Barton Gym Saturday evening with an 85-77 win over Allen County in Jayhawk Conference action.
The win kept Barton alone in second place in the Jayhawk Conference with seven games still to play in the season.
The Cougars are 14-5 in the Jayhawk and 18-5 overall. Allen is now 8-11 and 11-12.
Barton is clinging to that second spot in the Jayhawk, one game up on Dodge City and two games clear of Cloud County and Butler.
“This was a good win for our club,” Coach Craig Fletchall said. “Allen just beat Butler so we know what they are capable of. We had to work for this win. We made some plays when we needed to.”
Fresh off its comeback win in overtime on the road Wednesday at Cowley, the Cougars found themselves in another close battle Saturday.
The game featured seven ties and 15 lead changes before Barton pulled away in the final minutes for the eight point win.
In fact the game was tied at 71-all with just 3:23 to play.
Jahlil Rawley came up with a big 3-point play to give Barton a 74-71 lead with 3:03 to play. That started a 9-0 run that gave Barton its biggest lead of the game.
Ezekiel Charles had an old fashion 3-point play as well during that stretch and Anthony Smith finished it with a jumper with 52 seconds to play for an 80-71 lead.
Allen got the lead down to five but Barton made 3-of-4 free throws down the stretch to secure the win.
Barton shot a sizzling 53 percent from the field and put three players in double figures. Smith was able to stay away from foul trouble and led the Cougars with 18 points.
Rawley was close behind with 17 points – all in the second half. Charles continues to work his way back to full strength with 16-point outing, hitting 8-of-9 free throws.
Smith and Charles both had eight rebounds and Malik Rhodes handed out four assists.
Allen was led by the dynamic duo of DaRon Mims and Quentin Blaue. Mims finished with 28 and Blaue 27. Blaue made 7-of-9 3’s as Allen hit 13-of-26 as a team.
Barton will head to Independence Wednesday for another Jayhawk battle. The Pirates are 7-11 in the Jayhawk and 10-11 overall.
Tip is set for 8 pm.

Barton 85, Allen 77
Allen 34 43 77
Barton 68 47 85
Allen (11-12, 8-11)
Games 0-2 1-2 1, Mims 12-21 1-2 28, Blaue 9-12 2-2 27, Cross 2-6 0-0 4, Schockley 2-2 0-0 4, Sanders 1-7 0-0 3, Patterson 0-3 0-0 0, Womack 1-7 2-2 5, C Winston 1-2 0-0 3, A Winston 0-0 0-0 0, Hultgren 1-1 0-0 2. Totals – 29-63 6-8 77.
Barton (12-11, 9-10)
Norman 2-8 0-1 4, Rhodes 3-7 1-2 9, Rawley 6-8 3-3 17, Smith 7-8 4-7 18, Charles 4-8 8-9 16, Webster 2-10 3-4 9, Toppin 3-4 0-0 6, Barbee 1-2 0-1 2, Palmer 2-2 0-0 4. Totals – 30-57 19-27 85.
3-pointers – Allen 13-26 (Blaue 7-9 Mims 3-6 C Winston 1-1, Womack 1-4, Sanders 1-6); Barton 6-18 (Rhodes 2-3, Rawley 2-3, Webster 2-8, Charles 0-1, Barbee 0-1, Norman 0-2). Rebounds – Allen 32 (Blaue 6), Barton 36 (Charles, Smith 8). Assists – Allen 16 (Games 6), Barton 9 (Rhodes 4). Steals – Allen 5 (Mims 3), Barton 6 (Charles, Toppin 2). Blocks – Allen 0, Barton 4 (Rawley 2). Turnovers – Allen 15, Barton 15. Fouled Out – Games, Allen. Technicals – None.