Box Score CHANUTE, Kan. – The Neosho Panthers led by 13 points in the first half, but it took a second half comeback to defeat Cowley 83-79 for the 20
th win of the season.
After beating Cowley 89-64 earlier this season, it appeared it would be another blowout win for Neosho Saturday night. The Panthers jumped out to a 21-8 lead in the first half but this time Cowley would not go down so easily.
The teams would head to the lockers at halftime knotted at 37 after Cowley outscored the Panthers 29-16 to end the half.
Cowley would open the second half on a 9-2 run and eventually led by 11 points at the 11 minute mark prompting a timeout from
Jeremy Coombs.
After the timeout Joe Acuil scored six straight points for the Panthers followed by a basket from
D'Avonte Garland to make it a one possession game at the media timeout. Cowley again responded and pushed the lead back to eight points with 5 minutes remaining.
After the lead ballooned back to eight,
BJ Jenkins and Acuil took over for the Panthers scoring 12 straight points during a 12-4 Neosho run to tie the game at 77 with less than a minute to play.
Charles Cooper's layup with 53 seconds remaining gave the Panthers their first lead of the half. After getting a stop on the defensive end,
Brett Frantz put the game away for the Panthers going 4 for 4 from the free throw line in the final 14 seconds.
Acuil led the way for the Panthers with a career best 30 points along with 16 rebounds, 5 blocks, 4 steals, and a pair of assists. It was the fourth straight game with a double-double for Acuil and the 10
th of the season. Jenkins added 14 points and
Jamie Batish finished with 10 as the other Panthers in double figures.
Neosho improves to 20-7 on the season, and 4-5 in conference play. It is the second time the Panthers have reached 20 wins under
Jeremy Coombs, and the first since they won 20 games in 2009-10. Their next action will be Wednesday (Feb. 19) when they travel to rival Allen Community College looking to avenge their loss at home earlier this season.
