Balanced attack helps Pratt rally for 79-73 win over Tigers

The Cowley College men's basketball team got off to a good start in its game at Pratt Community College on Saturday as they built a 39-32 halftime lead. However, the Beavers shot 61.5 percent in the second half as they rallied to knock off the Tigers 79-73.

Cowley scored the first seven points of Saturday's game and never trailed until Chidiebere Obichere's basket with 15:07 left to play put the Beavers ahead 46-45.

"We got off to a good start against Pratt and had really good energy," Cowley head coach Donnie Jackson said. "Once we came out of the locker room in the second half, our defensive effort wasn't the same."

The Tigers would trail by 10 (74-64) with just over two minutes left before a 9-1 run pulled Cowley within 75-73 with 48 seconds remaining.

Cowley could not get the stop it needed on the ensuing possession as Pratt's Sterling Young hit a three-pointer with 20 seconds left to help seal the victory for the Beavers.

"We gave ourselves a chance at the end; we just couldn't get the stop we needed," Jackson said. "At some point, we need to break through these second-half lulls."

Cowley is now 11-7 overall and 5-7 in the Jayhawk Conference. The victory improves Pratt's record to 9-8 overall and 6-6 in conference play.

All five Pratt starters scored in double figures as they combined for 73 of the Beavers' 79 points. Quintin Metcalf scored 13 second-half points to lead Pratt with 21 points and 12 rebounds.

Mekhi Cameron led Cowley with 19 points, while Cameron Jernigan scored 12 of his 14 points in the opening half.

Cowley will return home to face 13^th-ranked Coffeyville Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. The Red Ravens (14-4) are tied for second in the conference with a record of 8-4.

"Coffeyville is a different animal. They are big and physical," Jackson said. "We will need to be able to sustain energy and effort for an entire 40 minutes if we want any chance to win."

Box score:

Cowley (73): Mekhi Cameron 7-15 2-2 19, Xavier Washington 1-4 3-4 6, Jeff Nwankwo 3-5 1-4 10, Mooch Austin 1-2 1-2 3, Cameron Jernigan 6-11 2-3 14, Xavier Valley 4-9 1-2 11, Damare Smith 2-5 0-0 6, Demetrius Rives 0-2 0-0 0, Trevion Alexander 1-1 2-2 4, Jackson Greene 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 25-54 12-19 73.

Pratt (79): Sterling Young 5-12 3-4 15, Jaylen Davis 5-8 2-2 12, Quintin Metcalf 7-12 7-9 21, Qai Kellman 3-6 3-5 10, Chidiebere Obichere 6-13 3-5 15, Davonte Russ 4-9 1-2 11, TJ Nunnery 0-0 0-0 0, Rodney Bailey 0-2 1-2 1, Sage Koelsch 0-0 0-0 0, Aviel Palmer 0-1 2-2 2, Enrique Lankford 1-1 0-0 3. Totals: 27-56 21-29 73.

Three-pointers: Cowley 11-28 (Cameron 3-8, Nwankwo 3-4, Valley 2-7, Smith 2-5, Washington 1-1, Austin 0-1, Jernigan 0-1, Rives 0-1), Pratt 4-12 (Young 2-6, Kellman 1-2, Lankford 1-1, Bailey 0-1, Davis 0-1, Obichere 0-1). Rebounds: Cowley 23 (Washington 6), Pratt 37 (Metcalf 12). Assists: Cowley 6 (Cameron, Austin 2), Pratt 11 (Young 4). Turnovers: Cowley 14, Pratt 17. Total fouls: Cowley 20, Pratt 16. Fouled out: Kellman. Technicals: none.