Box Score DODGE CITY, Kan. - Despite leading by 19 with three minutes to play in the first half, the Conqs held off the Panthers late run as they defeated Neosho Community College on Tuesday night by a score of 75-72.

Dodge City led for 36:06 of the 40 minutes played in the game, while also collecting 35 of their 75 points from their bench. 

Bruce Hodges and Tajae Anderson led the team with 15 points on the day, but Marquis McCray was the story as he collected his first double-double of the season, with 12 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. 

McCray got started early, knocking down his first three of the game just three minutes into the game on a pass from Justice Dixon. In the next five minutes, the Panthers were able to get the lead down to one multiple times, but three straight layups by Jyrus Freels gave Dodge City a 15-6 lead just before the media timeout. 

The Panthers came out of the timeout with a big dunk, but the Conquistadors were not fazed, as Kevin Howard hit a layup and Dayton McGroarty hit a huge three to put the Conqs back up by 12. After a miss by Austin Downing of Neosho, Justice Dixon found Tajae Anderson up ahead for a thunderous dunk to get the crowd on their feet and give Dodge City a 15 point lead. 

With 3:08 to play in the first half, Hodges found Freels in the low post. Freels was double-teamed and kicked it back out to Hodges who knocked down a huge three-pointer to give the Conqs their largest lead of the game, 35-16. Both teams traded baskets for the rest of the half, but two free throws by Neosho with 20 seconds cut the lead to 39-26 heading into the locker room.

Neosho came out of the locker room firing as they quickly cut the lead to six, just four minutes into the second half. The Panthers stayed hot for the next six minutes, butting the lead to four on two free throws with 9:33 left to play. 

With 8:18 to play, the Panthers went on an 8-0 run capped off by a huge three-pointer by Lual Dung and a free throw from Tevin Downing to give the Panthers their largest lead of the game, 60-58. The Conqs were not done yet, as Hodges found Anderson for a three to give the lead right back to Dodge City. The Conqs would hold their lead for the rest of the game, but not without some clutch free throw shooting, connecting on 5-of-7 free throws in the final minute to cap off another big win in conference play, 75-72. 

The Conqs are now 5-2 on the year and are 3-1 in KJCCC play. They will be in action again on Saturday as they travel to Colby Community College at 8 p.m.