GREAT BEND, Kan. (BartonSports.com) – The 17th ranked Barton Community College men’s basketball team returned to conference play in its second game out of the holiday break with an 87-75 victory hosting Fort Hays Tech Northwest.
Barton erased an early three-point deficit in taking the lead for good just over three minutes into the contest, leading by five at the break before building a double digit lead in holding off any Tiger surge for its 14th straight win in the series.
The victory improves the Cougars to 6-3 in KJCCC play and 12-3 overall while Fort Hays Tech falls to 2-8 in league and 3-10 on the season.
Next up is a Saturday trip to Colby Community College for a 2:00 p.m. tip at the Colby Event Center before a pair of home contests next week to close out the first path through the rugged 24-game conference slate.
All thirteen Cougars contributed to the scoring, three reaching double figures led by Keandre Kindell‘s game high 19 points, career high 8 assists, and 5 steals which also ties his career high set earlier in the season.
Brent Moss put together a stat stuffing monster night of 17 points and 13 rebounds for his 5th double-double of the season with career highs on 5 assists and 3 steals.
Fontaine Williams knocked down 4-of-7 behind the arc for an 18 point night and dished out 3 of the Cougars’ 20 assists on 32 made buckets.
Making his Cougar debut, Majok Chuol added 5 points and 4 rebounds in 15 minutes of action off the bench, sending the crowd into a frenzy on an electric three-point play from Moss’ assist for his first collegiate points with 6:13 remaining. Chuol would add two more points on the ensuing possession twenty seconds later as Kindell’s steal and assist set up the freshman for an inside bucket for Barton’s largest lead of 17 coming at 75-57.
Four Tigers reached double digits with Kalik Sharpe and John Troolin leading with 11 points each with Chase Harris and Harold Thompkins contributing 10 points each.
