Hot shooting second half lifts Tigers to 85-72 win at Labette

Shooting a blistering 77 percent from the floor in the second half of its game at Labette Community College on Saturday, the Cowley College men's basketball team turned a four-point halftime deficit (37-33) into a 85-72 win.

The victory was Cowley's third in a row and keeps the Tigers just one half game behind conference leading Coffeyville with three games to play.

Saturday's game was a tale of two half's as the Tigers did not display a lot of energy in the first half, but came out of the halftime intermission playing some of its best basketball of the season.

"We were lucky to be down only four points at halftime," Cowley head coach Tommy DeSalme said. "We turned the tide in a hurry in the second half and were much more active."

Tyrus McGee led Cowley in scoring for the fourth straight game as he finished with a game-high 28 points and seven rebounds. McGee was 10-of-14 from the floor and 5-of-8 from three-point range. Over the past four games, McGee is 35-of-56 from the floor and 14-of-22 from three-point range.

"Tyrus is shooting the ball really well and playing at a high level offensively," DeSalme said.

Freshman post player Michael Copeland also had a big game as he scored 12 of his 14 points after halftime, while Jordan Lankster added 16 points. Copeland and Lankster combined to make 15-of-18 shots from the floor.

"Michael played really well for us and Jordan is becoming more and more consistent in giving us another scorer," DeSalme said.

The duo benefited from having point guard Canon Fields distribute the basketball as Fields tied a season-high with 12 assists.

"Canon took control of the basketball game in the second half," DeSalme said.

Cowley made 21-of-27 shots from the floor over the final 20 minutes of play.

Garland McArthur led Labette with 22 points and 10 rebounds in the defeat. The Cardinals are now 8-18 overall and 3-11 in the Jayhawk East. Cowley improves to 18-9 on the season and 12-3 in the conference.
Cowley will now prepare to play its final regular season home game when they take on Fort Scott Wednesday at 7 p.m. The Greyhounds are 3-23 overall and 0-14 in the conference.

"We need to make sure we take care of business at home on Wednesday," DeSalme said. "If we can do that it will put us in a spot where we will still have a chance (to win the conference)."

Box score:
Cowley (85): Canon Fields 3-10 2-2 8, Caprest Rhone 1-4 0-0 2, Tyrus McGee 10-14 3-5 28, Dominick Cornelius 1-4 0-0 2, Michael Copeland 7-8 0-2 14, Jordan Lankster 8-10 0-0 16, Kelton Marshall 3-3 0-0 6, Lance Russell 2-6 0-0 5, Julio Rosario 1-2 2-3 4, Joseph Wakefield 0-0 0-0 0, Bent Schuck 0-0 0-0 0, Kalub Long 0-0 0-0 0, AJ Barber 0-0 0-0 0. Totals: 36-61 7-12 85.

Labette (72): Chris Nelson 2-7 0-0 4, Garland McArthur 7-14 8-10 22, Larry Barber 4-5 5-8 13, Randall Conley 4-11 1-2 11, Gabe Crumpley 2-5 3-3 8, Alonzo Haywood 2-7 0-0 4, Travis Dupree 0-4 2-3 2, Nathan Dawson 2-5 4-4 8. Totals: 23-58 23-30 85.

Three-pointers: Cowley 6-14 (McGee 5-8, Russell 1-3, Cornelius 0-1, Fields 0-1, Rhone 0-1), Labette 3-14 (nelson 0-4, Conley 2-6, Crumpley 1-3, Haywood 0-1). Rebounds: Cowley 38 (McGee (7), Labette 26 (McArthur 10). Assists: Cowley 21 (Fields 12), Labette 10 (McArthur 3). Turnovers: Cowley 14, Labette 13. Total fouls: Cowley 18, Labette 19. Fouled out: none. Technicals: none.