Cougars drop conference opener at Independence #GoBarton

The Barton Community College men's basketball team got a tough lesson about life on the road in the Jayhawk as the Cougars took a 79-69 loss at Independence Community College to open up conference play.

The Cougars fall to 1-1 on the early season, looking to get back into the win column on Saturday hosting Allen Community College in a 7:30 p.m. tip at the Barton Gym. Independence improves to 3-0 on the season. As per conference policy, spectators are not allowed for Saturday's game but the contest can viewed at BartonSports.com.

Barton built a pair of six point leads in first half action but a 9-0 Independence run late in the half helped the Pirates go into the locker room with a 39-34 advantage.

The Cougars scored the first six points of second half play as the teams seesawed the lead through the next four minutes. A 7-0 run put Independence surging out front before a six pack of Barton points tied it up at 51 with 13:38 remaining.

Tied for the last time at 57 with seven minutes left, Independence pulled away with seven straight over the next four minutes for a 74-64 lead. The Cougars cut it back to within five with 1:18 left on a Willie Lapoole bucket and Asanti Price's three charity throws after being fouled on a three-pointer but the Cougars couldn't convert down the stretch and the Pirates closed it out for the final margin.

Desean Munson led five Cougars in double digits with fifteen points while Lapoole posted a double-double performance in his Barton debut with fourteen points and ten rebounds. Jaheim Holden added twelve followed by Justin Harmon and Price's eleven and ten points respectively.

Tim Dalger had a monster night for Independence, posting a double-double thirty points and ten rebounds to lead three Pirates in double figures. Mikale Stevenson contributed seventeen while Madison Monroe added ten.

Barton shot just 37.8% in second half play, finishing at 45.5% for the game including a woeful 2-of-16 beyond the arc. Independence didn't have the best shooting night themselves at just 39% but knocked down 8-of-27 from three-point land and controlled the boards at 46-34 including a 14-8 edge on the offensive glass. The Pirates also sank 27-of-33 free throws while the Cougars just had fifteen attempts, making eleven.