Season low performances in one category can lead to a tough night on the court. Multiple low outputs and a six minute scoring drought tend to lead to losses as the Barton Community College men's basketball team found out Wednesday night at the Barton Gym being knocked from the unbeaten in a 68-65 loss to Allen County Community College. Barton drops into a three-way log jam at the top of the Jayhawk standings at 5-1 and 9-1 on the season while Allen County improves to 2-4 in conference play and 4-6 overall. The Cougars take to the road for just the third time of the season on Saturday in traveling to Independence Community College (3-3, 6-3) in a 6:00 p.m. tip-off.
The night started off well for Barton scoring the first seven points of the contest going on to hold the margin until the wheels fell off following a Sam Lorenzen jumper with 3:49 on the clock increasing the lead to eight. Missing their next five shots to go along with five turnovers, Barton left the barn door open with the Red Devils knocking down two treys in closing the half on a 12-0 run for a 36-32 lead.
Allen County shot just shy of 54% compared to Barton's 32% in first half play but the halftime did little to slow down the Red Devils while the Cougars' drought continued. Getting a Lorenzen bucket 2:09 into the half, the Cougars simply paused the eight point Allen County start as a three-pointer two possessions later dug Barton a fourteen point hole with 16:10 remaining.
Barton chipped away in the next four minutes to cut the deficit to nine but Allen County would respond in pushing the lead back out to fourteen three more times with the final time going coming at the 10:30 mark.
Beginning with a Lorenzen three-point play and ending with the last of his four three-pointers on the night, the 10-3 stretch over the next two minutes cut the deficit to seven. Following an offensive put back pushing the deficit back to nine, the Cougars cut it to two over the next three minutes and had three chances to tie it up but a turnover and two missed shots fell by the wayside.
Following a Red Devils' trey, Barton again battled back cutting it to one with 1:28 left and again had the opportunity to take the lead or tie it over the next minute but two turnovers and 3-of-4 Red Devil foul shots secured the win down the stretch.
Scoring sixteen second half points, Lorenzen finished with twenty-four points being joined by Kawanise Wilkins' twenty as the lone Cougars in double figures. Wilkins, who notched his third double-double of the freshman's season at the 4:10 mark of the first half, hauled down a career high sixteen boards with all eight offensive rebounds coming in first half action.
Tyler Williams led the Red Devils with twenty-six points, burying three of his four three-pointers on the night in first half action. Darius Love added thirteen with Jacob Patterson collecting all of his team high rebounds on the defensive glass.
The Cougars will be making the long trip to Independence to face a team coming off a big conference road win as the Pirates defeated Butler 72-70.
Other Game Notes:
- Barton's loss to Allen County was the first in sixteen games at the Barton Gym
- Allen County snapped a ten game losing streak to Barton dating back to November 4, 1996 on the Red Devils' home court.
- Barton leads the overall series 22-4 and 15-1 at the Barton Gym
- Barton season lows: Points (65), Made Field Goals (23), Field Goal Percentage (.319), 3-Point Field Goals Made (6), 3-Point Percentage (.300), and Assists (11)
- Barton was rejected a season high six times
- Sam Lorenzen has combined for 49 points in the last two games. (25 at Cowley last Saturday, 24 Wednesday night)