GREAT BEND, Kan. (BartonSports.com) – If the 22nd ranked Barton Community College men’s basketball team proved anything Wednesday night, the Cougars’ depth and ability to crank it up on a moment’s notice paid off in breaking away late for a 90-84 home victory over Cloud County Community College.
After a thirteen-point halftime lead was sliced to ten just two minutes into second half play, Barton’s starting-five went to the bench for over the next fourteen minutes. Led by the new career high 15 points from Eltramon Smith, Jr. along with contributions throughout the bench, the reserves hung tough but Cloud County chipped away at the deficit.
As the Cougars trailed for just the third time in the contest with 3:39 left, the re-inserted starting five lit fire producing a 6-0 run to regain the lead as Keandre Kindell‘s twelve points headed up a 15-7 Barton close out securing a fifth straight win in the series.
Victors of four straight on the season, Barton improves to 11-4 in KJCCC action and 17-4 overall while sending Cloud County to its third consecutive defeat dropping to 4-11 in league and 10-11 on the season.
Next up is key conference matchup in Arkansas City as Barton travels to 5th ranked Cowley College for a 5:00 p.m. tip. The Tigers, who suffered a Wednesday 100-75 loss at Dodge City, slip back into a tie for the top spot at 13-2 with a glossy 18-3 overall record including a three-point win late November in Great Bend.
Kindell led the Cougars with 16 total points and a team second best 4 assists, sinking 7-of-8 free throws including draining a perfect four shots down the stretch icing the game.
Fontaine Williams was the big first half story helping the Cougars to the double-digit lead, scoring 12 points on 3-of-3 shooting behind the arc in the first eight minutes within all of his 14 points and game high 5 assists occurring in the opening frame.
Smith, Jr. was part of a 43-point production off the Barton bench, putting up nine of his career best points in second half action while hauling down a team high 8 rebounds helping Barton to a plus-13 rebound edge. The freshman also dished out a pair of assists and team leading 3 steals.
Additional key bench contributions were the 9 points from Lucas N’Gombo, a career high 8 points and 4 rebounds from Majok Chuol, James Parlow, Jr.‘s 7 points, and Lyna Brooks, Jr.‘s 4 points and 4 rebounds.
Cloud County’s Elidjah Savane led all players with a double-double 29 point and 10 rebound effort with a game high 5 steals with Kuel Akot’s 3-of-6 long distance shooting adding 18 points. Keyon Garret-Miller provided a 15 point and 4 assist effort off the bench.
