Coming off a big nationally ranked battle win on the road, the 6th ranked Barton Community College avoided any let down coming home Saturday to cruise 74-57 over Colby Community College.
Scoring the afternoon's first eleven points, the Cougars held the Trojans to just 13 first half points before increasing its eighteen point lead at the halftime break to thirty points in cruising the final 8:23 earning its seventh straight win of the series.
Concluding the first swing through the conference slate tied atop the race at 11-1, Barton's eighth straight win improves the Cougars' overall record to 17-1. Colby drops to 2-10 in league and 6-12 overall.
A trip to southeast Kansas looms next on the schedule with a Wednesday drive to Independence Community College for a 7:30 p.m. tip before returning home Saturday for Hall of Fame Day in hosting Pratt Community College in a 7:30 p.m. start time.
Seven Cougars scored in the afternoon matinee with four reaching double figures led by Lajae Jones' 18 points.
Ring Malith, who started the day's scoring before canning a three-pointer to begin second half action finished with 13 points on 3-of-6 behind the arc and grabbed 8 rebounds.
Spark plugs off the bench Keandre Kindell and Brent Moss again created problems for the defense in a combined 24 points, 7 rebounds, 7 assists and a steal. Kindell put up 13 points with 4 assists while Moss added his usual high-flying dunks within his 11 points and 3 assists, to go along with 6 rebounds helping Barton to a plus-6 rebound advantage.
The Cougars had 17 assists on their 26 made field goals, Mozae Downing-Rivers leading the game with 5 assists on Barton's 46.4% shooting night.
D'Necco Rucker dropped 4-of-7 behind the arc to lead the Trojans with 19 points. Christian Larry added 17 points with Maxence Massadilla finishing with 11 points and a game high 7 assists.
Shooting just 13.8% in their thirteen point first half, Colby heated up in second half play putting 44 points on the board and 50% shooting including 9-of-15 in the final twenty minutes to even out at 33.3% for the game.
SERIES NOTES
- Barton has won the last 7 in the series
- Barton has won 7-of-the-last-10 in Great Bend
- Barton leads the series in Great Bend 35-4
- Barton leads the overall series 61-14
Record Book Watch
Cooper Jackson
- 158 career steals *2nd most – 161 behind Eric Bush's 319 (1999-01)