Top ranked Cougars survive Midland Classic still unbeaten

Top ranked Cougars survive Midland Classic still unbeaten
The Barton County Community College men's basketball team fought off a hard challenge from host Midland College Saturday to complete the Midland Classic with a 3-0 mark. The Cougars had to go into overtime for the second time this season, but held off Midland, 79-71 at the Chap Center in Midland, Texas.

The Cougars defeated Odessa College Friday evening, 87-66 after earning a 70-61 win over Grayson College Thursday afternoon.

The No. 1 ranked Cougars are now 10-0 for the season with four more game before the Holiday Break.

Highlights
Midland led the Cougars most of the contest, building the lead to as many as 8 points midway through the second half. That lead came at 58-50, following back-to-back treys by the Chaparrals. But after the second 3-pointer a Midland player was whistled for a technical foul squelching the Chaps run.

Barton followed with a 15-2 run -- the only points for Midland during the 8-minute stretch came on a goal tending call on Barton's Nouha Diakite -- to grab a 65-60 lead with just more than three minutes to play. But the home-standing Chaps would not go down without a fight. Midland closed the margin to 65-64 and when Barton's Randy Pulley hit just 1-of-2 free throws with 5 seconds to play, Midland had one last chance. The Chaps tied the game on a jumper by Englebert Cherrington to send the game to the extra session.

It was the second time this year the Cougars have gone extra time against the home team in a Classic. Earlier this year Barton fought off Southwest Missouri State-West Plains on the Grizzlies home court in overtime. The Cougars would do the same to the Chaps. Midland scored the first points of the OT session on a 3-pointer by Marques Woods, but that would be the last points the Chaps would get until the final stages of the overtime period as Barton County pulled away with an 11-0 run.

The Cougars were led by a season-high 25 points from Robert Whaley. Pulley added 16 and Justine Rose 14. Rodney Epperson finished with 11 -- all 11 in the second half and overtime.

Friday, the Cougars had things easier, rolling to an 87-66 win over Odessa College. Barton jumped to a 40-29 lead at half and never was in trouble in the second half against the Wranglers. Five Cougars scored in double figures, led by Whaley with 16 and Rose with 14. Stan King and Pulley each added 13 and Diakite had 10 points and 6 rebounds.

Stats
Stats can be found at www.bartonccc.edu/sports

Coach Ryan Wolf comments
It's nice to get out of town with three wins. We came in here with the idea of playing three games in three days being much like the Region VI tournament -- playing an afternoon game, an evening game, and night game all in the three days. That should help us later in the year.

Next
The Cougars will be at home over the Thanksgiving weekend, playing in the Cougar Booster Club/Walnut Bowl Classic Friday and Saturday at the Barton County Gym. The Cougars will play SMS-West Plains in a rematch Friday night, then tangle with Jayhawk East foe Neosho County Saturday. Both games will tip at 8 p.m.

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Check out Barton County Men's Basketball Online at www.bartonccc.edu/sports