Saints Can't Overcome Second Half Foul Trouble

ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. – The Seward County men's basketball team let another game slip in the final minutes, losing to Cowley College 74-69. The win dropped the Saints to 9-10 in the Jayhawk and 13-10 overall.

Neither team could get into a rhythm to start the game. With the Tigers leading 8-6 with just under six minutes into the game, Devin Bethely went on a 5-0 run for the Saints to give them their first lead of the game, 11-8. Cowley answered with a 9-0 run over the next four minutes to give them a 17-11 lead before Jordan Mitchell ended it with a layup to start a 5-0 run for the Saints.

The Tigers kept the lead for the remainder of the quarter, but an 8-3 run by the Saints tied the game just before halftime. However, the Tigers were able to run the length of the court to get a layup to go just before the buzzer went off to take a two-point lead into the break.

Seward shot 38.1 percent (8 of 21) from the floor in the first half and went 1-for-2 from behind the arc.  Cowley shot 32.4 percent (12 of 37) from the field and 17.6 percent (3 of17) from deep.  The Saints stayed in the game with a significant free-throw advantage, hitting 11 compared to Cowley's three.

The Saints came out of the break with a 5-0 run to take a three-point lead.  The Tigers had an answer, retaking the lead with a 4-0 run.  The Tigers kept the lead until it was 43-41, when Isiah Small connected on back-to-back three-point plays.  Cowley answered with four straight points, but a three from the left wing from Ke'Sean Davis put the Saints up three at the media timeout.

The lead stayed with the Saints until the 5:45 mark when Cowley reached the double bonus, tying the game with a free throw. Two minutes later, back-to-back threes by the Tigers gave them a 63-58 lead, one that they would not relinquish, going on to win the game 74-69.

The Saints shot 41.7 percent (25 of 60) from the floor and 33.3 (2 of 6) from behind the arc for the game. Cowley shot 38.7 percent (24 of 62) from the field and 19.2 percent (5 of 26) from deep but held a significant 18-6 free throw advantage in the second half.

Isiah Small led all scorers with 22 points on 7-of-9 shooting.  Jamel Horton joined Small in double-figures with 10 points.

The Saints will return to the Greenhouse on February 7 to take on the Coffeyville Red Ravens at 8:00 p.m. The game will be free for all fans thanks to an anonymous member of the community.  Free tickets can be picked up at Freddy's, Pizza Hut, Community Bank, First National Bank, Old Chicago and Chrysler Corner.