Tigers hold off Cloud County 57-54
| Final | 1 | 2 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Cloud County Community College (10-7, 6-5) | 24 | 30 | 54 |
|
Cowley County Community College (11-6, 5-6) | 28 | 29 | 57 |
The Cowley College men's basketball team got 20 points from sophomore Mekhi Cameron and held Cloud County to 36 percent shooting in a 57-54 home win Wednesday inside W.S. Scott Auditorium.
The victory improves Cowley's record to 11-6 overall and 5-6 in the Jayhawk Conference. Cloud County is now 10-7 overall and 6-5 in the conference.
On Wednesday, Cowley raced out to a 12-4 lead following back-to-back three-pointers by Jeff Nwankwo. However, a six-minute scoring drought followed, allowing the T-Birds to remain close.
With both teams struggling to get things going offensively, the Tigers went into halftime with a slim 28-24 advantage.
Clinging to a 30-28 lead early in the second half, Cameron scored seven straight points to push the Tigers' lead to nine. Cowley would lead by as many as 10 points (45-35) with less than nine minutes remaining before the T-Birds rallied.
Cloud would pull within 52-50 after a basket by Corey Sawyer with 1:20 left to play. However, Cowley's Mooch Austin answered with a driving lay-in on the ensuing possession to put Cowley up 54-50. Following a steal, Xavier Washington scored inside with 16 seconds remaining to increase the Tigers' lead to 56-50.
Cowley would hold on for the three-point win as they bounced back from a tough defeat in its previous home game.
Along with Cameron's 20 points, Washington added seven points and nine rebounds, while Nwankwo added seven points and eight boards.
Sawyer led Cloud with 16 points.
Cowley will play at Pratt Saturday at 4 p.m. The Beavers are 8-8 overall and tied with Cowley at 5-6 in the conference.
