In a battle of nationally ranked teams, the 11th-ranked Barton Community College men’s basketball team came up on the short side of an 84–77 decision Saturday afternoon at 15th-ranked Coffeyville Community College.
Barton held a six-point lead late in the first half before the Red Ravens closed with seven straight points, four stemming from two of their nineteen offensive rebounds, to carry a 32–31 advantage into the break.
As the Cougars steadied the rebounding margin after halftime, Coffeyville turned to the perimeter. The Red Ravens erupted for nine second-half three-pointers, including a streak of seven straight that built a ten-point cushion.
Barton continued to chip away with timely mini-runs, pulling within four with just over four minutes remaining, but Coffeyville answered with its eighth triple of the half in part of its 47% second half arc shooting to extend the margin once more. The Cougars had one more surge, stringing together five straight to close within four again with 1:12 left, but the Red Ravens’ 81 percent second-half free throw shooting closed the door as Coffeyville protected its home floor and claimed a second straight win in the series.
The loss drops Barton from the unbeaten ranks in conference play at 3–1 and moves the Cougars to 8–2 overall. Coffeyville improves to 3–1 in Jayhawk action and 8–1 on the season.
Barton now returns home for a pair of contests, beginning Wednesday with a 7:30 p.m. tip-off versus Hutchinson Community College followed by Saturday’s home matchup against Pratt Community College, also at 7:30 p.m.
Five Cougars reached double figures, led by Sebastian Muchitsch‘s 13 points. Jon Byrd added 12, including ten after halftime, with Pavel Ivanov and Noah Williams each adding 11 along with seven rebounds. Aris Rodriguez scored all ten of his points in the opening half, including seven in the first four minutes. Mikey Williams anchored the glass, tying his career high with eight rebounds to go along with nine points.
Coffeyville placed four in double figures, paced by Jack Sorrell’s 21 points and Konstantin Popovic’s 20.
