Saints-Barton Preview
LIBERAL, Kan. – The Saints look to keep their momentum going when they host the Barton Cougars at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday at the Greenhouse.
Seward posted its first conference win of the season with a 93-86 road victory over the Dodge City Conquistadors on Saturday.
Seward trailed 41-28 to Dodge City at the half and was down by as many as nine with under a minute remaining in overtime. But Dodge City turnovers and fouls allowed the Saints to make a furious comeback. Dekwon Brown scored six points, Muhammed Jobe had a basket and Trayon Grant-Foster hit one-of-two free throws with six-tenths of a second left to knot the game at 74 and send the game into overtime.
Brown scored the first four points of overtime, giving the Saints a 78-74 lead with 4:19 left. It was Seward's first lead since the first half. Brown also drained a three-pointer to open a seven-point margin with under two minutes remaining. Seward hit its free throws down the stretch and sealed its first conference win of the season.
Brown is averaging 14.3 points, including 87.5 percent from the free-throw line, Muhammed Jobe is adding 11.8 points and 5.0 rebounds and Benni Kazadi is chipping in with 10.8 points and 5.6 rebounds for Seward.
The Saints, who snapped a four-game losing streak, are 1-4 in the Jayhawk conference and 2-8 overall.
The 18th-ranked Barton Cougars are in the midst of a three-game losing streak. After winning their first three conference games, they have dropped their last three in Jayhawk play, including a final second loss, 85-83, to Pratt on Saturday. Barton has lost three straight for the first time since December of 2021.
Keandre Kindell is Barton's top scorer, averaging 16.2 points. Brent Moss is scoring 16.8 points and 9.8 rebounds and Modibo Sanogo is averaging 10.9 points and 5.8 rebounds for the Cougars, who are 3-3 in conference play and 8-3 overall.
The Saints were swept by the Cougars last season, losing 69-53 at the Greenhouse and 86-55 at Barton.