Warner, OK – Panthers pick up win number six on the season with an 86-77 road victory over #23 Connors State.
 
#23 Connors State was 8-0 going into tonight's game and they averaged 108 points per game. However, the Panther defense came up big and held the Cowboys to just 39 points in the first half and 38 points in the second half.
 
"I thought we did a nice job of making adjustments defensively tonight," Coach Jeremy Coombs said, "We knew they had six guys scoring in double-digits and couldn't let them get going offensively."
 
The Panthers turned defense into offense, as they took advantage of turnovers, by scoring 15 points just off takeaways. The Panthers went into the locker room at half with a 45-39 lead.
 
Neosho would come out in the second half firing on all cylinders. The Panthers started out the second half with an 8-0 run which pushed the lead to 14 points.
 
Neosho struggled late in the game on the glass and from the free throw line. This allowed Connors to cut the Panthers lead to 4 points with two minutes remaining. Magic Reliford and Jay McMiller knocked down a pair of free throws that eventually put the #23 team in the country away.
 
"I thought the guys did a great job of sticking to the game plan," Coombs said "I also thought they played great together and they all played a part in this win."
 
 
Neosho County 45 / 41 - 86
#23 Connors State 39 / 38- 77
 
Neosho Country - Reliford 25, Tolefee 18, Yang 13, McMiller 11, Taliafaro 7, Benton 4, Bittle 4, Fisher 3, Taylor 1.
 
#23 Connors State - Landrum 17, Sidberry 13, Haydon 12, Jones 10, Jones 9, Lowe 7, Putnam 3, Tanksley 2.