Tigers come back from a double-digit deficit to win 88-80

Coming off an emotional win over Hutchinson Community College on Wednesday, the Cowley College men's basketball team looked like it might suffer a letdown Saturday at home against Labette before rallying from a 13-point second-half deficit to win 88-80.

Saturday's game featured nine first-half ties before Tiger sophomore Mekhi Cameron buried a three-pointer three seconds before the halftime buzzer to give Cowley a 38-35 halftime lead.

Labette scored the first eight points of the second half and led by as many as 13 points (63-50) following a jumper by Kawasiki Ricks with 11:44 left to play.

Cowley still trailed by seven (76-69) with six minutes remaining before turning up the defensive intensity. The Cardinals would score again from the field as its final four points came from the free-throw line.

Cowley closed the game on a 19-4 run as they improved its record to 8-3. NJCAA Division II Labette is now 8-3 as well.

Cowley head coach Donnie Jackson was happy to get the win, even if it wasn't the prettiest victory.

"Sometimes you just have to find a way, and that was what we did," Jackson said. "Our defensive pressure really turned things around for us late in the second half. We had a number of guys make some extra effort plays down the stretch."

Cowley shot over 50 percent (50.8) for the second straight game, as they are averaging 102 points in its past two contests.

After scoring 29 points in the win over Hutchinson, Cameron again led all scorers with 24 points while going 4-of-8 from three-point range. Sophomores Mooch Austin (14 points), Cameron Jernigan (13 points), and Trevion Alexander (eight points) combined to make 12-of-14 shot attempts.

"Mooch, Cam, and Trevion all stepped up huge on both ends," Jackson said.

Kamyn Edwards led Labette with 18 points, while Ricks added 17.

The Tigers will return to conference play on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. when they play at Independence Community College. Although the Pirates are just 4-8 overall and 2-4 in the Jayhawk Conference, Independence hit 17 three-pointers in an 82-63 win over Seward on Saturday.

"Along with hitting 17 three-pointers in its last game, the Pirates have one of the top big men (Bouna Kebe) in the conference. It will be an old-fashioned Jayhawk battle on Wednesday."

Box score:

Labette (80): Julius Lymon 5-7 0-0 10, Brandon Taylor 1-4 0-0 3, Kamyn Edwards 4-11 8-9 18, Kawasiki Ricks 6-13 4-4 17, Eric Dillinger 1-3 0-0 2, Jayde Duncan 5-7 2-2 15, Christian Yeates 2-4 4-6 8, Christian Williams 2-5 1-2 5, Justin Coleman 0-0 0-0 0, Brock Wesley 1-3 0-1 2, JonRay Munoz-Frye 0-0 0-0 0, Landon Austin 0-2 0-0 0. Totals: 27-59 19-24 80.

Cowley (88): Mekhi Cameron 8-15 4-5 24, Xavier Washington 1-5 4-8 6, Mooch Austin 4-5 4-5 14, Damare Smith 3-4 0-0 8, Demetrius Rives 3-10 2-4 8, Raishaun Brown 1-6 0-0 2, Xavier Valley 2-4 0-0 5, Cameron Jernigan 4-4 5-8 13, Trevion Alexander 4-5 0-2 8, Jackson Greene 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 30-59 19-32 88.

Three-pointers: Labette 7-18 (Duncan 3-4, Edwards 2-6, Taylor 1-3, Ricks 1-2), Cowley 9-22 (Cameron 4-8, Austin 2-3, Smith 2-3, Valley 1-2, Brown 0-4, Washington 0-1, Rives 0-1). Rebounds: Labette 31 (Lymon 9), Cowley 36 (Rives, Jernigan 6). Assists: Labette 6 (six players with 1), Cowley 19 (Brown 6). Turnovers: Labette 10, Cowley 12. Total fouls: Labette 22, Cowley 18. Fouled out: Dillinger. Technicals: Ricks.