Receiving the KJCCC's weekly award earlier in the week, Cougar Downing of the Barton Community College men's basketball team has also garnered national recognition in being selected as the Division I Men's Basketball NJCAA Player of the Week. 

Downing's debut week in the Cougar uniform made an impact on the program record book in a pair of categories helping Barton to a 3-0 start to the season. Scoring 15 or more points in each of the Cougars' first two victories, Downing shined in the bright lights of the Hutchinson Sports Arena this past Saturday in the BSN Sports Tipoff Classic putting on a 43-point performance leading Barton's knocking off No. 12 Odessa College 92-85 in overtime.

The 43 points was the third-best single game scoring output in Barton's now-54 years of competition while his 14-of-14 accuracy from the free-throw line was also a program 3rd best.

For the week, Downing averaged 26.2 points for the three contests, shot 46.9 percent from the field including 41.6 percent behind the arc on 36 attempts, and was perfect from the charity stripe on 18 attempts. The sophomore transfer also had a pair of five-assist games to average 3.6 per week, to go along with, additionally averaging 3.6 rebounds.

Most recently Downing knocked down 3-of-9 shots behind the arc in contributing 15 points, to go along with, 4 rebounds, two steals, and an assist in the Cougars' 104-57 victory over the reserve squad from Kansas Wesleyan University.

Downing the Cougars put their 4-0 record to the test this weekend hosting a pair of games in the Best Western/Booster Club Classic.  Barton takes on Clarendon College Friday evening followed by McCook Community College on Saturday. The Cougars then open up conference play next Wednesday as Garden City Community College comes to the Barton Gym.  Tip-off time for each of the contests is 7:30 p.m. with full audio and video coverage found at www.BartonSports.com.