January 14, 2010

Tigers pick up big road win at Independence

Trailing by five points (38-33) at the end of the first half of Wednesday night’s game at Independence, the Cowley College men’s basketball team opened the second half on a 12-2 run and never relinquished the lead in a 85-76 win over the Pirates.

Tyrus McGee scored 17 of his team-high 26 points in the second half, while freshman point guard Canon Fields nearly recorded a triple-double as he finished with 18 points, 12 assists, and seven rebounds.

“I am real proud of our team to come here and win in a tough place to play, and get a victory in the Jayhawk East,” Cowley head coach Tommy DeSalme said.

DeSalme, who was the head coach at Independence the previous two seasons, was returning to face his former team for the first time as coach of the Tigers.

“It was a special night but I am more proud for our kids,” DeSalme said. “I thought we did some great things as a team.”

Anthony Downing scored 16 of his game-high 33 points in the first half as Independence took the five-point lead into the halftime intermission. However, Cowley rallied to tie the game at 40-40 on a three-pointer by sophomore Lance Russell, and regained the lead at 43-40 on a three-pointer by McGee with 17:30 left to play.

The Tigers would maintain a three-point lead (68-65) after a basket by the Pirates’ Karron McKenzie with just over six minutes remaining. McGee hit another three-pointer to push Cowley’s lead back to six (71-65) and the Tigers would hit 7-of-8 free-throws down the stretch to hold off the Pirates.

Cowley entered the game being out-rebounded by an average of four rebounds per game, however, the Tigers out-rebounded Independence 37-34. DeSalme credits the team’s hard work with their ability to win the battle of the boards.

“I can’t say enough about our team’s effort the last two days of practice,” DeSalme said.

Joining Fields and McGee in double figures was Dominick Cornelius, who finished with 14 points and four rebounds. Kelton Marshall also played well as he added nine points and a game-high eight rebounds.

The victory improves Cowley’s record to 10-6 overall and 4-1 in the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division. Independence is now 9-6 on the season and 2-1 in conference play. Only Neosho County and Coffeyville, both 3-0, remain unbeaten in the Jayhawk East.

The Tigers, who are 2-1 in conference road games, will next play at Johnson County Saturday at 4 p.m. The Cavaliers, the defending NJCAA Division II National Champions, have lost six of their last eight games after starting the season 7-0. Johnson County is 7-2 at home, where they average 91 points per game.

“It will be a tough place to play,” DeSalme said. “We know we will get their best shot so we will need to be at our best.”

Box score:
Cowley (85) Canon Fields 4-7 8-10 18, Lance Russell 3-10 1-2 9, Tyrus McGee 10-18 2-2 26, Dominick Cornelius 5-12 4-6 14, Kelton Marshall 4-9 0-0 9, Caprest Rhone 0-3 2-2 2, Michael Copeland 1-2 3-6 5, Jordan Lankster 0-0 2-2 2, Kalub Long 0-0 0-0 0, AJ Barber 0-0 0-0 0, Julio Rosario 0-0 0-0 0, Joseph Wakefield 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 27-61 22-30 85.

Independence (76): Derrick Washington 3-10 2-2 8, Karron McKenzie 4-10 2-6 10, Anthony Downing 8-12 14-15 33, Tokie Aromona 5-6 0-2 10, Bobby Jones 3-8 0-0 6, Aaron Washington 0-0 0-0 0, Jaurrice Magg-Downing 0-0 1-2 1, Andrew Ensley 4-7 0-2 8. Totals: 27-53 19-29 76.

Three-pointers: Cowley 9-21 (Fields 2-4, Russell 2-5, McGee 4-7, Cornelius 0-3, Marshall 1-2), Independence 3-13 (D. Washington 0-4, McKenzie 0-1, Downing 3-6, Jones 0-2). Rebounds: Cowley 37 (Marshall 8), Independence 34 (Downing 7). Assists: Cowley 18 (Fields 12), Independence 11 (D. Washington, Downing, Aromona 3). Turnovers: Cowley 15, Independence 19. Total fouls: Cowley 17, Independence 21. Fouled out: none. Technicals: none.