Great Bend, KS -- The Neosho County men's basketball program put together two gritty road efforts in what amounted to two tough road losses. Monday, the Panthers traveled to Goodland, KS to take on the Northwest Tech Mavericks and fell 69-61; and then traveled to Great Bend, KS Tuesday afternoon to take on the Barton County Cougars falling 93-86.

Both games were back-and-forth matchups that featured several hot and cold periods for the Panthers. On the first night, the Panthers would be without their leading scorer Magic Reliford who sprained his ankle during Saturdays win over Cloud County where he posted a 35-point performance. His absence seemed to show as the Panthers struggled to score, posting a season low 61-point performance.  Reliford would return for Tuesday afternoon and although not 100% managed to drop 30 points on the Cougars. The Panthers struggles from the free throw line and on the glass would haunt them as the Panthers shot 43% from the charity stripe vs NW Tech and Barton.

Coach Jeremy Coombs on the road trip, "quarantine, road games, three games in 4 days…there's no excuse for shooting 43% from the free throw line. We just have some guys that need to get in the gym and start putting in extra work, so we don't lose these close games because of something we can control." 

KEY STORYLINES & STATISTICS

-- The Panthers were third in the KJCCC in scoring prior to the last two games and the 61-point performance Monday night was a season low for the sharp shooting Panthers who normally average 88.9 points per game.

-- Tuesday was Magic Reliford's 2^nd straight 30-point game giving him 647 career points and placing him 42^nd on the Panthers All-Time Career Scoring list.

-- De'Antray Hughes grabbed 12 rebounds and scored 16 points vs NW Tech; and vs Barton snatched 15 boards and finished with 19 points making that his 7^th double-double of the season.

-- Tremaine Chesley added a career high 22 points on 8 of 10 shooting and 6 of 9 from the free-throw line vs Barton.

UP NEXT

With the Panthers first bye of the year, they will have the opportunity to get some much-needed practice in before the Independence Pirates come to town Saturday, March 13^th, for a 4:00 PM tip here in Chanute, KS.

For more information, go to www.goneosho.com or follow @GoNeoshoHoops or GoNeosho on Twitter for updates throughout the year.

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