No. 3 ranked Barton Community College edged Cowley College 75-73 in Saturday's nationally ranked showdown. Cowley upset the Cougars 80-70 in their first meeting.
Cougars Brent Moss and Lajae Jones each converted a pair of free throws to preserve the victory after Nichols scored off a steal against Jones. Cooper Jackson sparked a 10-0 scoring run off seven scoreless possessions by Cowley with a pair of steals for a 68-60 lead. Mozae Downing-Rivers fed Jones for a 3-pointer and a 71-64 lead.
The Cougars needed every point when they committed four turnovers in the final three minutes.
"What a game," said Barton coach Jeremy Coombs. "We had to earn it. We didn't play exceptionally well, but that has a lot to do with Cowley. Hats off to Cowley. They're great team. It was knock-down drag-out game.".
The Cougars (21-1, 15-1 Jayhawk) won their 12th consecutive Jayhawk game, the longest streak in Barton history. Cowley drops to 19-3, 14-2 Jayhawk. The Jayhawk Conference regular-season champion is virtually assured of an NJCCA national bid.
Ring Malith (18), Jones (17), Moss (14) and Myles Thompson (10) scored in double figures. Jones grabbed 13 rebounds. Cowley's Arzmonte Dallas scored 20 points and Leslie Owens added 11 points. Corey Thomas grabbed 17 boards and contributed nine points.
Malith scored 16 first-half points. Jones posted his 7th double-double with 17 points and 13 rebounds. Myles Thompson scored Barton's first six points after halftime in a 10 -point, eight rebound game. Mozae Downing-Rivers and Jackson combined for five assists and five steals.
The Cougars took charge with a 14-0 scoring burst for a 38-27 lead. Barton stretched it to twelve in the first three minutes of the final frame but a 10-0 run by the Tigers tied it up at 52 near the midpoint.
No. 22 Butler (17-4, 12-3) visits the Barton Gym Wednesday.
Barton shot 39% and made 17-of-25 free throws (68%) to the Tigers' 11-of-14. Cowley shot 41.5% and 8-of-26 (31%) from long range.
NOTES The teams have split the last six meetings. Barton's second straight win at Cowley. Barton leads the series 8-5 in Arkansas City. Barton leads the overall series 28-14
Barton 38 37—75
Cowley 27 46—73
BARTON (20-1, 14-1)—Malith 7-14 2-4 18, Jones 3-12 9-11 17, Moss 6-9 2-2 14, Thompson 4-15 2-5 10, Jackson 2-7 1-1 5, ,Downing-Rivers 1-6 1-2 3, Kindell 1-1 0-0 3, Ndayisaba 2-3 0-0 5, Totals 26-67 17-25 75.
COWLEY (19-3, 14-2)—Dallas 8-17 0-0 20, Owens 3-6 5-5 11, Smith 3-10 1-2 9, Thomas 3-10 1-2 9, Hugie 2-4 0-0 5, Nichols 4-5 0-0 8, Ziegler 2-6 0-0 4, Totals 27-65 11-14 73.
3-pointers—BC 6-16 (Jones 2-3, Malith 2-7, Kindell 1-1, Ndayisaba 1-2, Downing-Rivers 0-1, Jackson 0-1, Thompson 0-1); CC 8-25 (Dallas 4-8, Hugie 2-3, Smith 2-7, Thomas 0-2, Ziegler 0-2, Nwankwo 0-4). Rebounds—BC 39 (Jones 13); CC 38 (Thomas 17). Assists—BC 8 (Jackson 3); CC 13 (Thomas 3). Steals—BC 8 (Downing-Rivers 3); CC 11 (Dallas 4). TO—BC 14, BC 14.
JAYHAWK MEN
Barton 15-1 21-1
Cowley 14-2 19-3
Hutchinson 13-2 18-3
Butler 12-3 17-4
Garden City 11-5 15-7
Cloud 10-6 15-7
Dodge City 7-9 9-13
Coffeyville 5-11 9-13
Seward 4-10 6-14
Pratt 4-12 6-15
NW Tech 3-11 7-13
Colby 3-11 7-14
Independence 0-16 1-21
2-3—Barton 75, Cowley 73; Garden City 66, Cloud 56; Butler 73, Coffeyville 59; Hutchinson 111, Independence 82; Dodge City 87, Pratt 84; Seward at NW Tech
