The Barton Community College men's basketball team pulled ahead in the final nine minutes Wednesday night for a 75-66 win at Independence Community College.
With no more than six points separating the teams for the first thirty-three minutes, the Downing cousins led difference making 8-0 run, Cougar Downing dropping a triple then later converting an And-1 with Mozae Downing-Rivers capping the spurt on an authoritative dunk giving Barton a nine point lead with 5:09 remaining.
Barton kept Independence from getting any closer than seven the rest of the way to claim their second straight victory on the Pirates' home floor.
The Cougars remain in fourth place of the conference standings at 10-6 behind their third straight victory, improving to 15-7 on the year while Independence slips to 11th at 6-11 and 8-15 overall.
Barton's surge will be put to another big test on Saturday as 13th ranked Coffeyville Community College rolls into the Barton Gym for a 4:00 p.m. tip-off. The Red Ravens, who beat the then-22nd ranked Cougars 85-77 on their home floor, sit tied for 2nd place at 12-5 and 18-5 overall after their five game win streak was snapped 83-75 Wednesday at 23rd ranked Butler Community College.
Downing, the reigning KJCCC Player of the Week, reset his season high production from a 28 point performance Saturday versus Hutchinson, pouring in 29 points on 10-of-18 shooting including 5-of-10 from beyond the arc while extending his perfect charity stripe shooting to thirty straight on a 4-of-4 swishings.
Sending in a pair of early second half dunks helping lead Barton 9-3 start to the half erasing a two point halftime deficit, Hannes Saar finished with 13 points and 10 rebounds in posting his 4th double-double of the season.
Fouling out with 2:12 remaining, Downing-Rivers flirted with a triple double performance in scoring 10 points, grabbing 9 rebounds, and dished out 7 assists.
Cooper Jackson finished with four steals as two of the Region VI leader's thefts led to Saar's dunks helping Barton get off to the good second half start.
Melvyn Ebonkoli produced a first half double-double for the Pirates but was held to just two rebounds in second half action, finishing with a 23 point and 12 rebound performance as the lone Independence player to reach double figures.
Aime Rutayisire scored two of his buckets on Barton's first possession of both halves, Downing following to open the game but Independence countering with an 8-0 run.
Eight straight points occurred twice more in first half play, the Barton cousins combining to lead Barton in front 16-10 at the mid-point with Independence stringing another eight pack together to lead 24-21 at the seven minute mark.
Independence eventually went into the halftime break with a 36-34 edge but Rutayisire's bucket, Saar's first dunk, and Downing's triple surged Barton back in front.
The Pirates only knocked down 5-of-26 beyond the arc, but buried two of those in a five minute stretch to own their final lead of 53-48 with 10:18 left.
Barton's 7-0 run on Saar's jumper followed by Downing and Cooper Jackson three-pointers put the Cougars in front and after an Independence layup, the game saw its 8th and final tie.
Christian Bowen-Webb's trey put the Cougars in front for good, Saar's jumper pushing the gap to five.
The Pirates' last surge of four straight cut the deficit to one with 7:47 left but the Downing duo gave Independence the tail light view on the decisive 8-0 run capped by Downing-Rivers going coast-to-coast, throwing a behind the back dribble to avoid a defender before launching for a tomahawk dunk.