Dropping three straight games after a 6-1 start to the season, the Cloud County Community College men’s basketball team fell in back-to-back close losses to Cowley and Dodge City.
Against Dodge City, the T-Birds fell 81-78 in overtime.
Dodge City opened the game with an 11-2 run in the first four minutes. Cloud was able to go on a run of their own and make it a one-possession score, 15-12, with 8:41 left in the first half. Dodge City was able to rebuild its cushion and take a 10-point lead with five minutes left in the half, but Cloud finished strong with a 14-6 run to make it a two-point game entering halftime, with the Conquistadors leading 31-29.
The T-Birds started the second half hot with an 18-7 run in just over five minutes to take the lead and build a 47-38 cushion. Dodge City’s offense tried to get rolling, but Cloud was able to outpace the Conqs and built a game-high 11-point lead halfway through the second half. Cloud did their best to hold off Dodge City, but sputtered late, scoring two points to Dodge City’s eight, and after a basket with 19 seconds left, the game was tied and heading to overtime.
Dodge City continued the momentum into overtime, going on a 7-2 run to take a five-point lead with two minutes left to play. Cloud got the lead down to two with 48 seconds left, but four made Dodge City free throws to a T-Bird deep ball, the T-Birds came up just short to fall 81-78.
Samuel Akot led in scoring with 19 points, steals with four and blocks with three, while chipping in with eight rebounds.
Elidjah Savane had 15 points, 12 rebounds and two blocks.
Versus Cowley, the T-Birds fell 95-89.
Cloud started the game strong, especially on the defensive end as the T-Birds only allowed four points in the first seven minutes, allowing the ‘Birds to take a 13-4 lead. Cowley’s offense finally got into a groove and roared off eight straight points to make it a 13-12 game. Both teams fought for the lead, but with under nine minutes to go in the half Cowley took the lead 20-17, and was able to fend off the T-Birds as Cowley went into the locker room up 35-28.
A 10-3 Cowley run to start the second half gave them a 45-31 lead early, but Cloud was able to persevere and made it a one-point game, 59-58, with 10:23 to play. The fight for the lead recommenced with Cloud finally retaking the lead with 6:25 remaining. Cowley quickly retook the lead and didn’t relinquish the lead for the rest of the game, as Cowley won 95-89.
Al Brooks Jr. led in scoring with 22 points and rebounds with 10.
Kam Williams had 16 points.
D’Ontez Walker had 12 points, three rebounds and three steals.
