Saints fall short to Allen in the season opener

LIBERAL, Kan. - Seward County Community college men's basketball program falls 76-72 at Allen Community College in the 2021 season opener. In the loss, Seward County is now 0-1 overall and 0-1 in conference play. The Saints led 62-55 with 4:25 remaining but the Red Devils would come back to exchange the lead one final time with 50 seconds left on a corner three. 

To start the game the Saints had to climb out of an 8-1 deficit and adjusted to the physicality and speed of the conference game. At the first Media timeout, Seward County led 12-11 after going on an 11-3 run. Neither team led by more than 10 points as this game was a battle possession by possession and was a true conference game. After a last-second three-point basket from the Red Devils to close off the first half, the Saints entered the break with a one-point advantage 32-31. Seward County shot just 38% from the field and connected on four of their eight three-point attempts in the half. 

In the second half, Seward County had their largest lead of the game 50-43 with 9:57 remaining in the contest. They kept the Red Devils at arm's length but not for long. Allen answered with a 16-6 run in the final four minutes and took the lead with less than a minute to go in the game, 71-66. The Saints were unable to climb out of the deficit in the final minute and went cold from behind the three-point line shooting just 23% in the second half.

The Saints were led by freshman Erik Pratt who put together a double-double in his college debut with 18 points and 11 rebounds. Other double-digit scorers were Stephen Takyi with 14 points, Ahamadou Sillah with 12 points, and Samuel Henderson with 10 points.

The Red Devils Cedric Rollerson led all scorers with 27 points and went 16 for 16 from the free-throw line. Amadou Traore and Freddie Word both added 11 points as Allen improves to 2-1 overall and 1-0 in conference play. 

Seward County will look to bounce back against Cowley College this Saturday (January 30th, 2021) in the Greenhouse at 8 PM.

For game day information go to SewardSaints.com or follow us @ SewardSaints.