Skidding Saints Lose Third in a Row; Stevenson Reaches 1,000 Points

For the second straight game to open up 2016, the Seward County Saints never trailed in the first half, but were unable to hold off a late charging opponent as Seward watched a six point halftime lead go up in flames Wednesday night in the Greenhouse as the visiting Neosho County Panthers scored 62 second half points to knock off the Saints 97-89 for their third straight defeat.  In the loss, Seward guard Niem Stevenson scored 29 points to give him 1,020 career points, making him just the 11^th player in school history to reach the 1,000 point milestone. 

Things started well for Seward who scored the first six and eight of the first ten points of the game to open up an early 8-2 lead on Neosho.  Later in the half, back to back Seward buckets from Delwin Young and Marcus Mathieu opened the Saints lead to eight at 16-8 and the guys in green kept a comfortable cushion to the first half media timeout at 25-19.  A quick 4-0 run out of the break gave Seward their largest lead of the game at 29-19 but they watched, eerily like Saturday's loss to Independence, Neosho slowly work their way back into things before the half, making it a four point game before a bucket from Niem Stevenson put the Saints in front by six at the half 41-35. 

It was the Saints defense staking them out to the first half lead over the Panthers as Seward held Neosho to just 38% shooting in the half and 25% from the three point line while turning 12 Panther turnovers into 11 points.  Seward shot 43% in the half and turned the ball over just 4 times, but failed to open up a bigger lead on Neosho because of a dreadful 8 of 19 mark at the free throw line in the half. 

Neosho started the second half strong, scoring on their first two possessions to make it a two point game at 41-39 and give a prelude to what was to come in the final 20 minutes.  A three by Stevenson to break the mini Neosho run put the Saints back up five but in the process also gave Stevenson career points numbers 1,000, 1,001, and 1,002 making him one of just 11 players in program h history to reach the storied 1,000 point club.  It didn't take long for the Panthers to cut the Saints lead back to two, but back to back Seward threes from Charles Beauregard and Mathieu stretched their advantage back to eight at 55-47 with 16:17 to go.  Matthew Lewis came in and sparked the Saints off the bench, his three point play kept them in front by seven with under 14:00 remaining.  Seward remained in front by seven at the second half media timeout, but the Saints defense, or lack thereof, against the Panthers, prevented them from ever putting the game away, and that would come back to haunt them.  Neosho hung around and hung around, trailing by just two possessions when back to back Panther threes knotted the game up at 82 in the blink of an eye with 2:06 to go.  A one of two trip to the free throw line for Seward gave Neosho the ball, down by just one and it didn't take long for the Panthers to take advantage of the situation, knocking down a pair of free throws on their next trip down the floor to take their first lead of the night at 84-83 with 1:56 remaining.  Stevenson responded with a quick bucket for the Saints to put them back in front, but the Seward defense just couldn't slow down a Neosho attack playing without their two leading scorers who had both fouled out of the game.  The Panthers scored on two straight trips in a matter of just 17 seconds to retake and then push their lead to 88-85 with under a minute to play.  Seward went cold in the final minute and never had a chance to get back into the game.  Neosho upped their lead to as many as 10 in the final minute before a last second layup by the Saints made it a 97-89 final in favor of the Panthers. 

Neosho exploded for 62 second half points against Seward, shooting 50% overall and 54% from the three point line in the period to come from behind and win.  The Saints offense wasn't their issue as they shot 50% as well in the second half to finish the game at 46% in the loss.  Stevenson shook off a slow start to finish with a game high 29 while Beauregard had 23 and Mathieu 16 in the losing effort for Seward.  The Saints were once again dominated on the glass in the loss, watching Neosho outrebound them by 15 on the night including 20 offensive rebounds for the Panthers and 19 second chance points coming from those extra opportunities. 

Seward drops their third straight Jayhawk Conference game, falling to 13-4 overall and 3-3 in the league action.  Neosho County is headed the other direction in the league table, winning their third straight Jayhawk Conference tilt to improve to 12-3 on the y ear and 4-2 in conference play. 

The Saints will continue a three game home stand on Saturday in the Greenhouse when they host Jayhawk blue blood Coffeyville in conference action. The Saints and Ravens will tip things off at 8:00.  Free tickets are available courtesy of our buyout sponsor McDonald's at their Liberal locations. 

#24 SEWARD COUNTY/NEOSHO COUNTY BOX SCORE