INDEPENDENCE, KS. - Despite 36 points from Cougar Downing and 25 points from Magic Reliford, the Neosho men's basketball team fell 93-80, Wednesday night, at the Field House on the Campus of Independence Community College.

Wednesday night saw the Indy Pirates make use of the second half offensive glass and free-throws, helping them take the victory over the Panthers.  Indy would snatch 19 offensive boards scoring 32 of their 93 points off 2nd chance put backs. Indendence CC would also take advantage of the charity stripe knocking down 19 of 25 for the game.

The Panthers would step into the field house scorching the nets knocking down 7 threes to take a 43 to 39 lead into the locker room at half.

Coach Coombs thoughts on the game, "I thought the guys played tough and played together.  We really needed one more guy to show up and we needed to rebound much better than we did, but overall I thought we battled."

The second half-started out with more of the same as Cougar Downing and Magic Reliford would keep the Panthers on top of the Pirates for most of the second half, until a Shamman Artis three would give Indy a 2-point lead with 2 minutes remaining. Tim Dalger would hit a dagger three ball to extend the Pirate lead to 5 points. On the next Panther possession, Magic Reliford couldn't get the long ball to fall leading to an Indy fast break and an offensive rebound and another bucket by Dalger.

The Panthers would be unable to convert the next possession and surrender the game with 12 seconds remaining, until Indy's Dalger decided to attempt a windmill dunk to conclude the game. This dunk attempt would ultimately end Cougar Downing's night by giving him his 5th personal foul. Dalger would convert both free-throws ending the game 93-80.

Coach Coombs thoughts on the last 2 minutes, "I thought it was a hard fought game from both teams and with two minutes to play it was anyone's game. Obviously I wasn't happy, and was disappointed Indy tried dunking the ball, after we conceded the game as you just don't disrespect the game like that. Even my son's youth teams know that but it is what it is." 

For the contest, Neosho shot 42.9 percent (30-70) from the field compared to Indy's 44.7 percent (34-76), with the Pirates out-rebounding the Panthers 56-83.

UP-NEXT

Neosho will have a day off before returning to action at home against the #16 Cowley Tigers Friday evening. Tip-off against the Tigers is set for 5:30 PM, inside of Panther Gymnasium.

Jeremy Coombs' thoughts on the amount of basketball the Panthers have played as of late, "I love it… I know it's a lot of hoops and the playoffs are right around the corner but we spent twenty days in quarantine due to other teams we played having players test positive for COVID, yet we are still going to finish this 22 game schedule.To be honest I'm really disappointed to see we are the only team attempting to make up a game three days before the region tournament. But hats off to my guys for fighting through a brutal schedule."

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