Saints defeat Neosho County for their second conference win

CHANUTE, Kans.- Seward County men's basketball defeated Neosho County Community College 68-64. The Saints improve to 9-7 overall and 2-5 in Conference play. In the second half, the Saints were able to implement their own speed to the game, with a full-court press that kept the Panthers to just 29% from the field in the half.

The first half the Saints would struggle offensively against the 3-2 zone set up by the Panthers. Neosho County would go on an 18-5 run to lead 27-11 over the Saints, Seward County would struggle from the field and be unable to get their offense going early in-game. This would change in the final five minutes of the half with the Saints going on a 17-3 run to close out the half. Seward County's Greg Johnson would end the half with a three-pointer at the buzzer and the Saints would head to the locker rooms trailing 35-33 to Neosho County. With the Saints able to get the shots they were looking for in the first half Seward County would shoot 52% from the field after the early struggles from the field. 

The second half started with the Saints applying their full-court pressure with a trap that created chaos for the Panthers offensively. Seward County's Surakata Jawara connected on a three-pointer to put the Saints in the lead 43-42 and they would not give up the lead for the remainder of the game. The Panthers would struggle from the free-throw line late in the game going just 3-8 in the final two minutes of the game. This would give the Saints the separation they needed to claim the road win 68-64. Seward County snaps a 4 game losing streak against conference opponents and places them in 5th place in the Jayhawk West behind Pratt Community College.

Neosho County's Torey Cargo led the panthers with 16 points, five rebounds, and five steals. Corbett Kimberlin and Jae-Min Yang each provided 11 points for the Panthers.

For the Saints, it was the freshman Greg Johnson who had a career-high in points with 21. Seward County did not have any other player in double digits but Samuel Henderson provided nine points and three rebounds. 

Seward County will face off against Garden City Community College on Monday at 8 PM in the Greenhouse.