Barton men victorious, 22nd ranked Cougars hold on for road win over Pratt #GoBarton

The 22nd ranked Barton Community College men's basketball team found ways to win Saturday on the conference road holding off Pratt Community College 82-74.

The Cougars' victory solidifies their third place standing improving to 13-5 and 19-5 overall to salvage the season series split as Pratt falls to 6-10 in the KJCCC with their two-game win streak ending sliding to 10-13 on the season.

Next is a two-game homestand of festivities beginning Wednesday hosting Seward County Community College on "Pink-Out Night" followed by Saturday's Hall of Fame Day welcoming Dodge City Community College. A 7:30 p.m. tip-off time slated for both contests.

Leading by as many as fifteen in first half action, the Cougars never trailed but found themselves in a dogfight as the Beavers paddled their way back into it on a 13-4, five-minute span to tie it at 59.

Tied again at 63, Barton broke the final deadlock taking the next three points but five minutes later again found the Beavers on the doorstep of a two-point margin.

Barton finished with an official 17 offensive rebounds, none larger than two coming with forty-five seconds left as Sebastian Muchitsch's putback on the latter gave the Cougars a two-possession advantage.

A wild and pivotal ten seconds ensued sealing the victory, Aris Rodriguez forcing a turnover leading to Brent Moss' dunk with another Pratt turnover on an inbounds violation leading to Moss' 15-foot jumper for an eight-point lead. The Beavers would score on the next possession but Moss put the icing on cake sinking a pair of charity tosses with twelve ticks left.

Keandre Kindell sliced through the defense multiple times when Barton needed a bucket, pouring in fourteen of his team 19 points in the second half and corralling a career tying high of 8 rebounds, to go along with, 3 assists and 3 steals.

Rodriguez finished with 17 points as Moss compiled his 12th double-double of the season in scoring 16 points and grabbing 11 rebounds.

Resetting his career high scoring output, Eltramon Smith, Jr. buried 3-of-6 behind the arc for 16 points with 7 rebounds. Muchitsch led the Cougars' slight advantage on the boards with a game high 12 rebounds, half coming on the offensive glass, leading to 8 points.

Joseph Opareke's double-double 20 points and 11 rebounds led the Beavers with Jarrett Dingle adding 19 points and Hunter Vaughn contributing 18 points as the duo were a combined 5-of-20 behind the arc.