Tigers return with 80-79 win over No. 21-ranked Colby Community College

Playing its first game of the second semester, the Cowley College men's basketball team played with a renewed energy in an 80-79 win over No 21-ranked Colby Community College Wednesday at W.S. Scott Auditorium. A pair of free throws by the Tigers' Raishaun Brown put Cowley ahead by one-point with 15.7 seconds left. Colby would have a chance to win, but Ronald Mitchell's contested three-point attempt was off the mark as the final buzzer sounded.

"That was one heck of a first game back from break," Cowley head coach Donnie Jackson said. "Both teams competed at a high level."

The Tigers led the entire first half before settling for a 39-36 halftime lead. However, Colby would grab its first lead of the game at 50-49 following a basket by Tyrone Marshall Jr. with 16:39 left to play. The game would have seven ties and seven lead changes the rest of the way.

A 10-2 run helped Cowley break a 67-67 tie and lead 77-69 with 3:51 remaining. However, Colby answered with a 10-1 run of its own to lead 78-77 following a pair of free throws by Mitchell with 42.8 seconds left.

This set the stage for Brown to play the hero as his free throws on the ensuing possession would turn out to be the difference.

"We had to earn that win over a well-coached and very talented Colby team," Jackson said. "I was really proud of the guys for sticking together down the stretch when Colby took the lead. We rallied and found a way."

Cowley's Mekhi Cameron went 9-of-15 from the floor and 5-of-8 from three-point range to lead all scorers with 25 points. Clarence King (CK) added 24 points and went 10-of-12 from the foul line.

"Mekhi and CK really put us in their back offensively," Jackson said. "We need both to show up like that every night."

Ahmad Johnson led five Colby players in double figures with 17 points.

Cowley out-shot Colby 47.4 percent to 38.7 percent from the floor.

The Tigers will now prepare to play at No. 19-ranked Butler Community College Saturday at 4 p.m. in El Dorado, KS. The Grizzlies are 12-3 overall and 6-3 in the Jayhawk Conference.

"Butler will not be an easy game. They are mature, experienced, and well-coached," Jackson said. "They are also physical. We will need to really defend and try and match their physicality if we want a chance to compete to win on the road."