Tigers run win streak to seven games with 136-122 win over Independence

The No. 16-ranked Cowley College men's basketball team had six players score in double figures and raced past a solid Independence Community College team 136-122 Wednesday inside W.S. Scott Auditorium.

With the win, Cowley remains only one-game behind conference-leading Coffeyville (9-0) as the Tigers are now 8-3 overall and 8-1 in the Jayhawk Conference Eastern Division. Independence, which had its three-game winning streak come to an end, is now 8-3 overall and 6-3 in the Jayhawk East.

"Our guys came out with a real sense of urgency out of respect for Independence," Cowley head coach Tommy DeSalme said.

The teams came out gunning from the start as Cowley led 40-33 with nine minutes left in the first half. The Tigers would out-score Independence 21-4 on points off turnovers in the opening half as they built a 73-54 halftime lead.

Sophomore forward Dalen Ridgnal's emphatic slam dunk on a pass off the backboard by Moun'tae Edmundson capped a 15-2 run to start the second half and give the Tigers a commanding 88-56 lead.

Ridgnal would finish with a season-high 36 points to go along with 16 rebounds as he is now averaging 22.5 points and 13.8 rebounds per game.

"Dalen showed he is a high-major player and one of the best junior college players in the country," DeSalme said.

The Tigers would eclipse the century mark on a three-pointer by sophomore Mike'l Henderson with 12:30 remaining and cruised to the win.

"That first 30 minutes was some of the best basketball we have played," DeSalme said. "Our depth was a real factor."

Henderson had his third straight 20 point game, finishing with 23 points and five assists. Sophomore Jacquez Yow came off the bench to add 13 points and six rebounds, while freshman Raishaun Brown chipped in with 10 points.

"That second unit of ours came in and continued the momentum of the first group," DeSalme said. "Jacquez played under control and is getting better at finishing at the rim."

Edmundson (18 points and seven assists) and Cevin Clark (17 points, four rebounds) rounded out Cowley players in double figures.

The Tigers have scored 100 or more points in five consecutive games and are averaging just under 108 points per game on the season.

Cowley's game at Neosho Community College this weekend has been postponed to a later date. The Tigers will instead prepare to host Allen Community College Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. The Red Devils (3-8) have lost six games in a row and are in last place in the Jayhawk East with a record of 2-7.

"Our student section was really special against Indy and we will need them again against Allen," DeSalme said. "This little break comes at a good time for us to work on tightening some things up."

Box score:

Independence (122): Madison Munroe 6-12 1-1 15, Keeving Etienne 1-3 6-6 8, Tim Dalger 7-16 4-4 18, Mikale Stevenson 1-4 0-0 3, K.J. Taylor 7-13 8-9 25, Jordan Alexander 8-11 4-7 20, Jonathon Mogbo 4-6 4-6 12, Shamman Artis 8-15 0-0 21. Totals: 42-80 27-33 122.

Cowley (136): Moun'tae Edmundson 7-12 1-2 18, Shemarri Allen 3-5 1-2 7, Cevin Clark 6-13 2-2 17, Dalen Ridgnal 14-24 5-8 36, Biar Garang 0-3 0-0 0, Kobe Campbell 1-2 0-0 2, Mike'l Henderson 5-11 9-9 23, Clarence King 1-2 0-0 2, Raishaun Brown 4-8 1-1 10, Tarese Morse 1-2 0-0 2, Jacquez Yow 5-9 3-4 13, Josiah Harris 2-6 1-2 6. Totals: 49-97 23-30 136.

Three-pointers: Independence 11-27 (Artis 5-8, Taylor 3-8, Monroe 2-4, Stevenson 1-3, Dalger 0-2, Etienne 0-1, Alexander 0-1), Cowley 15-38 (Henderson 4-9, Clark 3-8, Edmundson 3-7, Ridgnal 3-6, Brown 1-3, Harris 1-2, Yow 0-2, Garang 0-1). Rebounds: Independence 43 (Dalger 8), Cowley 48 (Ridgnal 16). Turnovers: Independence 26, Cowley 14. Total fouls: Independence 26, Cowley 25. Fouled out: Etienne, Taylor. Technicals: none.