Cougars surrender halftime lead for fifth time in conference, fall by nine at Seward

For the fifth time in Jayhawk Conference play this season, the Barton Community College men's basketball team led at halftime only to leave with the taste of defeat.  Wednesday night at The Greenhouse in Liberal, Kansas, the Cougars fought for a three-point intermission advantage but were outscored by twelve in the second half to lose 67-58 to Seward County Community College.  Barton drops to19-9 on the season and more damaging drops to 7-5 in the conference standings while Seward County improved to 20-8 on the season and 10-2 in conference play to clinch its fourth straight conference championship.  With only two games remaining, the Cougars still control its destiny on maintaining a first round playoff game with Garden City Community College and Cloud County Community College giving chase at one game back.  Barton will travel to No. 16 ranked Hutchinson Community College on Saturday before wrapping up the regular season next Wednesday at home against Garden City which could determine a home playoff game.  Tip-off time for Saturday's matchup with the Dragons is set for 7:30 p.m. at the Hutchinson Sports Arena.  

Two Cougars were all that managed to reach double figures led by Tyler Corley's twelve points.  Raheem Johnson posted his eight double-double of the season scoring ten points and grabbing eleven rebounds to go along with two blocks and two steals.  Barton's leading scorer Darius Gibson was held to only eight points but dished out a team high five assists.

Quentin Purtue celebrated his birthday by leading the Saints with nineteen points.  Niem Stevenson scored seventeen while Secean Johnson added twelve.  Stevenson, Malcolm Hill-Bey, and Evan Allen led the Saints' eight rebound advantage hauling down seven each.