January 5, 2010

Tigers slip past Carl Albert 66-62

In a game that featured six lead changes and two ties over the final 20 minutes of play, the Cowley College men’s basketball team made enough plays down the stretch to pull out a 66-62 win over Carl Albert Monday at W.S. Scott Auditorium.

Freshman Dominick Cornelius’ basket with 1:20 remaining broke a 57-57 tie and sophomore Lance Russell scored six points in the final 50 seconds, including two free throws that sealed the win with 6.7 seconds left.

The Tigers won despite being out-shot 52 to 36 percent from the floor. Cowley made up for its poor shooting by forcing Carl Albert into 27 turnovers.

Cowley head coach Tommy DeSalme was happy to earn the win in the team’s first game since Dec. 8.

“We found a way to win despite not playing good offensively,” DeSalme said. “Our pressure was good, it helped us force a lot of turnovers. When you take a long break it is like starting all over again.”

Freshman point guard Canon Fields (pictured), who scored just two points in the Tigers’ 67-65 loss at Carl Albert on Nov. 21, finished with 17 points, five assists and five steals in Monday’s win. Fields was 6-of-11 from the floor, including going 3-of-3 from three-point range.

Dominick Cornelius added 10 points as 10 players scored for the Tigers, which improve to 9-5 on the season. Jaron Jones’ 18 points and six rebounds led Carl Albert. The loss drops the Vikings’ record to 5-9 on the season.

Cowley will now prepare to face some stiff competition at the Jayhawk Shootout held Friday and Sunday in Coffeyville. On Friday, the Tigers will battle Seward County at 1 p.m. Cowley will then take on Dodge City Sunday at 3 p.m. Both Seward County and Dodge City are 11-3 on the season.

Seward County leads the Jayhawk Conference with an average of 91 points per game.

“We have got a good test coming up, Seward plays fast and furious,” DeSalme said.

Friday’s game can be heard on KSOK Radio 1280 AM, while Sunday’s game will be broadcast on KSOK Radio 95.9 FM.

Box score:
Carl Albert (62): Eric Dunlap 3-4 0-0 7, Andy Garcia 4-7 2-3 11, Chris Holmes 3-7 2-2 8, Jaron Jones 8-14 2-4 18, Skip Johnson 4-7 4-4 12, Greg Lang 2-2 0-0 4, Kidani Brutus 1-6 0-1 2, Troynell Adams 0-1 0-0 0. Totals: 25-48 10-14 62.

Cowley (66): Canon Fields 6-11 2-5 17, Joseph Wakefield 0-1 0-0 0, Tyrus McGee 1-7 3-4 5, Michael Copeland 1-1 0-0 2, Jordan Lankster 1-5 0-0 2, Caprest Rhone 3-7 1-3 8, Kalub Long 1-1 0-0 2, AJ Barber 0-2 0-0 0, Brent Schuck 0-0 0-0 0, Lance Russell 2-7 4-4 9, Julio Rosario 2-4 1-2 5, Dominick Cornelius 4-7 1-2 10, Kelton Marshall 1-8 3-4 6. Totals: 22-61 15-24 66.

Three-pointers: Carl Albert 2-9 (Dunlap 1-2, Garcia 1-1, Johnson 0-3, Brutus 0-3), Cowley 7-19 (Fields 3-3, McGee 0-3, Lankster 0-2, Rhone 1-2, Barber 0-1, Russell 1-4, Cornelius 1-2, Marshall 1-2). Rebounds: Carl Albert 34 (Holmes 11), Cowley 32 (McGee 5). Assists: Carl Albert 6 (Jones 3), Cowley 10 (Fields 5). Turnovers: Carl Albert 27, Cowley 15. Total fouls: Carl Albert 19, Cowley 18. Fouled out: none. Technicals: none.