March 1, 2010

Lundy’s huge game helps Neosho County snap Tigers’ win streak

Unable to slow down Neosho County sophomore post player Antione Lundy Saturday in Chanute, the Cowley College men’s basketball team had its five-game winning streak come to an end with a 90-85 loss to the Panthers.

Lundy finished with 27 points and 26 rebounds in helping Neosho County earn the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division’s No. 4 seed in the Region VI playoffs, which open on Tuesday. The loss drops the Tigers to the No. 2 seed in the region tournament. Cowley will host Pratt Community College, the No. 7 seed in the Jayhawk West, Tuesday at 7 p.m.

On Saturday, Cowley raced out to a 7-2 lead before Neosho County used a 21-2 run to lead 23-9. The Tigers would answer back with a 14-2 run to trail only 25-23, and went into the half down by only four points (45-41).

With Lundy going 11-of-17 from the floor and freshman guard Antonio Bostic joining Lundy with a game-high 27 points, the Panthers opened an 18-point lead (75-57) midway through the second half.

“Lundy is a very good player and he played like it,” Cowley head coach Tommy DeSalme said. “We did not do a good job of putting a body on him early in the game.”

Cowley would close to within six points of the lead with six minutes left and got within three points of the Panthers late in the game, but were unable to get over the hump in the five-point defeat.

“It was a fast paced game and a game of runs,” DeSalme said. “We had a hard time slowing them down, I thought Neosho played lights out.”

Both teams shot an even percentage from the floor, but the Panthers shot it better from the free-throw line. Neosho County went 21-of-31 from the line, while Cowley made only 10-of-19 free throw attempts.

Tyrus McGee had another big game for the Tigers in the defeat as he hit 4-of-6 three-point attempts and finished with 23 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Sophomore Lance Russell was the only other Cowley player in double figures as he chipped in 11 points. Jordan Lankster made just 4-of-10 shots from the floor but finished with nine points and a team-high 10 rebounds.

Cowley finishes the regular season at 20-10 overall and 14-4 in the Jayhawk East. Neosho County (20-10) finished in a three-way tie with Independence and Allen County for third place in the conference.

The Tigers will look to put the loss behind them and set their sights for a tough opening round game of the region tournament as Pratt defeated Cowley in both previous matchups played earlier this season.

The Beavers (18-12 overall, 7-9 Jayhawk West) have lost five games in a row and six of seven after opening conference play with a 6-3 record. However, Pratt rallied to win at Cowley 59-57 on Nov. 19 and then defeated the Tigers 86-70 in Pratt on Nov. 28. 

“Everyone is playing for their season now, we have got to attack the moment,” DeSalme said.

Box score:
Cowley (85): Canon Fields 4-11 0-1 9, Caprest Rhone 3-8 2-4 8, Tyrus McGee 8-15 3-6 23, Dominick Cornelius 2-8 0-0 6, Kelton Marshall 3-5 0-0 6, Jordan Lankster 4-10 1-3 9, Lance Russell 4-8 2-2 11, Joseph Wakefield 2-3 2-2 7, Julio Rosario 1-4 0-0 2, Michael Copeland 1-3 0-1 2, Brent Schuck 1-1 0-0 2, AJ Barber 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 33-76 10-19 85.

Neosho County (90): Justin Fairman 2-10 1-2 5, Antonio Bostic 10-21 3-6 27, Antione Lundy 11-17 3-5 27, Tyrie Wooten 4-12 10-12 19, Kris Wilson 2-10 4-6 8, Jordan Hickert 1-2 0-0 2, Anner Arce 1-1 0-0 2, Lance Larson 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 31-73 14-21 90.

Three-pointers: Cowley 9-23 (McGee 4-6, Cornelius 2-6, Fields 1-3, Russell 1-4, Wakefield 1-1, Rhone 0-1, Marshall 0-1, Lankster 0-1. Neosho County 7-14 (Fairman 0-1, Bostic 4-4, Lundy 2-5, Wooten 1-4). Rebounds: Cowley 39 (Lankster 10), Neosho County 57 (Lundy 26). Assists: Cowley 18 (Fields, McGee 6), Neosho County 15 (Wilson 9). Turnovers: Cowley 11, Neosho County 14. Total fouls: Cowley 24, Neosho County 17. Fouled out: McGee, Cornelius. Technicals: none.