Tigers slip past NW Kansas Tech to even record in Jayhawk Conference

The Cowley College men's basketball team won its second straight game to even its record in the Jayhawk Conference with a 71-66 victory over Northwest Kansas Technical College Saturday inside W.S. Scott Auditorium.

With the win, Cowley improves its record to 6-4 overall and 2-2 in the Jayhawk Conference. Northwest Tech falls to 2-6 overall and 1-3 in the conference. The Mavericks' three conference losses have all been by single digits.

"Northwest Tech has three good guards and will end up beating some teams in the conference, so we are glad to get the win," Cowley head coach Donnie Jackson said.

On Saturday, Cowley got a three-pointer from sophomore Clarence King just before the halftime buzzer as the Tigers took a 35-30 lead into the intermission. Cowley's lead would grow to 55-44 following a three-pointer by Mekhi Cameron. However, the Mavericks would answer back with a12-0 run to lead 56-55 on a basket by freshman guard Ethan Yancy with 6:25 left to play.

King would hit another three-pointer on the ensuing possession as Cowley went back on top.

With the score tied 60-60, Cowley would get back-to-back three-pointers from Xavier Washington and Cameron to take a two-possession lead and the Tigers would hold on for the five-point win.

"We were getting higher percentage looks and guys stepped up and made some big plays down the stretch," Jackson said.

King led four Tigers in double figures with 17 points and six rebounds. Transfer Kennedy Willis also played well, finishing with a season-high 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting.

"Kennedy can score around the rim, he just has to get a little more consistent on the glass," Jackson said.

Yancy led the Mavericks with 25 points in the loss.

The Tigers will now prepare to face former Cowley head coach Tommy DeSalme, who has Hutchinson Community College unbeaten (10-0) and ranked fifth in the latest NJCAA Division I basketball poll.

"Coach (DeSalme) has Hutch playing at a high-level," Jackson said. "We will have to execute for 40 minutes or more and give our best effort. We will also need to work on taking care of the basketball and getting back on transition defense."

Box score:

NW Tech (66): Ethan Yancy 10-21 2-5 25, Clayton Bradley 1-4 0-0 2, Hantz Louis-Jeune 3-6 2-3 9, Myles Arnold 4-8 1-3 10, Lino Manhom 2-6 1-2 5, Zaire Hayes 3-5 0-0 7, Tate Bessire 0-1 0-0 0, Timothy Moore Jr. 3-4 2-2 8, Youssouf Timera 0-2 0-2 0. Totals: 26-57 8-17 66.

Cowley (71): Raishaun Brown 2-9 2-2 7, Mekhi Cameron 3-7 2-4 11, Clarence King 5-10 5-5 17, Xavier Valley 4-6 0-0 10, Kennedy Willis 5-8 4-6 14, Xavier Washington 3-7 0-0 8, Emmanuel Austin 1-2 0-0 2, Trevion Alexander 0-0 0-0 0, Faustin Phanor 0-0 0-0 0, Chris Spenkuch 0-0 0-0 0, KJ Spiller 1-1 0-0 2. Totals: 24-50 13-17 71.

Three-pointers: NW Tech 6-19 (Yancy 3-9, Louis-Jeune 1-3, Arnold 1-2, Hayes 1-3, Bradley 0-1, Bessire 0-1), Cowley 10-23 (Cameron 3-6, King 2-3, Valley 2-3, Washington 2-4, Brown 1-7). Rebounds: NW Tech 28 (Bradley, Manhom 6), Cowley 27 (Cameron, King 6). Assists: NW Tech 6 (Yancy 2), Cowley 12 (Brown 6). Turnovers: NW Tech 6, Cowley 13. Total fouls: NW Tech 20, Cowley 18. Fouled out: Manhom. Technicals: none.