Box Score GREAT BEND, Kan. – Barton started the game on a 27-2 run and held their lead for the remainder of the game as the Cougars took down the Conqs on Wednesday night by a score of 97-74.
 
Justice Dixon came on strong late in the game to lead the team with 14 points while also grabbing three rebounds and collecting eight assists. Ishawn Murphy and Tajae Anderson also scored in double figures with 12 and 11 respectively.
 
Dodge City came out extremely slow to start the game, going 0-for-4 in the first three minutes while Barton was able to go 5-for-6 and take an 11-0 lead. Dodge City was then able to get on the board at the 14:42 mark as Hunter Davis grabbed an offensive rebound and put it back in to make the score 17-2.
 
Coming out of a timeout, Barton continued to pour it on early as they extended the lead to 27-2 before Dodge City was able to get back-to-back baskets from Jyrus Freels and Kevin Howard to cut the lead to 27-6.
 
For the remainder of the first half, the Conqs were able to raise their shooting percentage to 19.4 percent, but the Cougars continued to score on the other end, with both teams heading into the locker room with Barton leading, 56-21.
 
Coming out of the locker room, Ishawn Murphy knocked down three three-pointers and Dayton McGroarty finished a layup to cut the lead to 58-32. Barton then found their rhythm in the second half, going on a 14-4 run before Bruce Hodges knocked down a three on a fast break to make the score 72-39.
 
Dodge City continued to fight throughout the second half, cutting the lead to 83-55 with 5:07 to play. With just over four minutes to play, Justice Dixon found Hodges who was able to knock down a deep three to give Hodges his eighth assists of the game and cut the lead to 23, 84-61.
 
Justice Dixon was able to knock down back-to-back three's late in the game, but the Cougars were able to hold off any sort of run by Dodge City, winning the game, 97-74.
 
The Conqs move to 5-6 overall on the year and 3-5 in KJCCC play. They will be in action again on Saturday as they host Cowley College at 3:00 p.m., inside the Student Activity Center.