20th ranked Cougars snatch victory from defeat, Barton overcomes late deficit in advancing to region semifinals #GoBarton

The 20th ranked Barton Community College men's basketball team needed a late defensive effort Tuesday night at the Barton Gym to turn a five point deficit into a survive-and-advance 72-68 win over Hutchinson Community College.

Trailing by five with 1:16 to play, the Cougars' Cooper Jackson turned a pair of steals into four points flipping the lead for the seventh and final time but needed its third steal with ten seconds remaining and ensuing Cougar Downing pair of free throws to seal the victory.

Winners of eight straight improving to 23-8 on the season, the third seeded Cougars advance to Friday's 7:00 p.m. semifinals at Friends University in Wichita against 17th ranked Coffeyville Community College as the second seeded Red Ravens rolled over seventh seeded Pratt 114-82. Sixth seeded Hutchinson ends the season at 20-12.

Downing led all scorers with 16 points with Joseph Locandro finishing with 15 points and a team high 7 rebounds. Mozae Downing-Rivers added 14 points with a game high 7 assists while Jackson's 4 steals led to an 11 point night. Ring Malith came off the bench with 9 points and Hannes Saar finished with 5 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists and joined Downing-Rivers with 2 steals each.

Aaron Franklin led the Blue Dragons with a double-double 12 points and 14 rebounds helping Hutchinson to a plus-14 rebound edge including a plus-14 on the offensive glass leading to a plus-16 advantage in second chance points. Antonio Green and Aaron Potter each came off the bench to add 11 points each.

Barton offset the rebound disadvantage by shooting 56% on the night and having a plus-8 advantage in turnovers resulting in a 12-point difference in points off turnovers, none larger than the six points the Cougars produced down the stretch.

The Blue Dragons knocked down 10 three-pointers, seven more than Barton in finishing 41% overall from the field.