March 8, 2009

Crowder helps Cowley slip past Seward County in overtime

Getting two baskets from sophomore Jack Crowder in the final minute of regulation, the Cowley College men’s basketball team rallied to send its game against Seward County into overtime Saturday in the second-round of the Region VI Tournament played at Wichita State University’s Charles Koch Arena.

With Cowley trailing 62-59, Crowder followed home a missed shot with a slam dunk to cut Seward County’s lead to 62-61 with 56 seconds left. The Saints’ Antonio Smith then made 1-of-2 shots from the free-throw line to put Seward ahead 63-61 with 39.6 seconds remaining.

Needing a basket to tie, Cowley got the ball to Crowder, who nailed a 12-foot baseline jumper to tie the score at 63-63 with 15.5 seconds left. With a chance to win, Smith missed a three-pointer and Thijin Moses missed the tip-in attempt at the buzzer.

Seward County scored the first basket of overtime and had the game tied at 69-69 with less than a minute showing on the clock. Again, it was Crowder to the rescue as he tipped in a missed shot to put Cowley on top 71-69 with 26 seconds left in overtime.

The teams each went 1-for-2 from the foul line on the next two possessions before Seward County had a chance to send the game into a second overtime. With the game clock winding down, Smith missed a shot inside and Cowley’s Jawanza Poland grabbed the rebound and was fouled with 1.7 seconds left.

Poland missed both free throws, but Smith’s heave from three quarters court was off the mark as the buzzer sounded, and Cowley escaped with the two-point win.

Crowder led Cowley with a game-high 27 points and 14 rebounds. Poland added 12 points and five boards as the Tigers improved to 28-4 on the season.

Smith led Seward County with 18 points, but made just 4-of-14 shots from the floor. The Saints shot just 31.7 percent as they finished the season with a record of 23-9.

Cowley advances to take on Barton County in the semifinals of the Region VI Tournament.