Phil Lee
LIBERAL. Kan. – The Seward County Community College men’s basketball team opened the second half of conference play with a 76-66 win over Cloud County Community College Wednesday at the Green House. It was their first home win of the season.
The Saints snapped a seven-game losing streak and posted their first victory since December, a 93-86 overtime win at Dodge City. Seward improved to 2-11 in the Jayhawk Conference and 3-15 overall.
SCCC hosts Cowley at 2 p.m. Saturday in the Greenhouse. The Gameday Sponsor is Community Bank. The game airs on 107.5.
When the schools met for the first time this season in November at Cloud, the Saints held a five-point lead with under two minutes remaining before imploding and having the Thunderbirds tie the game in regulation and eventually winning it in overtime.
In the rematch, there was a familiar tone to the game as it has been all season with Seward playing close, opening a lead and then falling behind.
The Saints trailed 39-34 at the half, but battled back and opened a 69-61 lead with two minutes to go. The Thunderbirds closed the gap to five at 70-65 with under a minute remaining and a repeat of the November contest loomed.
This time around there was no such meltdown. Kiku Parker made sure of that when he drove the lane and hit a layup with 33 seconds to give the Saints a 72-65 lead. Seward hit free throws at the end to seal the win.
Muhammed Jobe led Seward with 22 points. Carson Bennett had 20 points, including 5-of-8 from three-point range, Parker chipped in with 16 points and Benni Kazadi added 12 points and eight rebounds for the Saints.
Elidjah Savane had 17 points and Syncere Burnette and Kuel Akot scored 14 points each for the Thunderbirds, who fell to 4-9 in conference play and 10-9 overall.
