DODGE CITY, Kan. - Trying to beat last year's NJCAA Region VI Champions for the third time this year, the Dodge City Community College men's basketball team could not overcome a nine-point halftime deficit in a 79-77 home loss to Neosho County Community College in the NJCAA Region VI Tournament opening round at the Student Activities Center in Dodge City before a crowd of 572.

The Conquistadors see their season come to a close at 20-11 overall while the No. 14 seed Panthers will move on to the quarterfinal round to face No. 6 seed Coffeyville Community College on Sunday, March 5th. 

A similar feel to the previous two meetings this game would be had to start the game as Neosho County would come out swinging by hitting some early baskets to keep tied with Dodge City. After seeing ties at 2-2, 5-5, and 7-7, DC3 would use a mini 4-0 scoring spurt take the lead at 11-7 with 16 minutes left in the first half and hold onto their lead for the next four minutes. NCCC would tie the game for the fourth time at 13 all as part of a 14-0 Panther run to force a Dodge City timeout with 8:14 remaining in the first half. Coming out of the timeout trailing 23-13, the Conquistadors would fight their way and get within two at 27-25 with 3:40 remaining before halftime when the Panthers would end the half on a 9-2 run to take a 36-27 lead into the locker room. 

Having gone 1-9 overall in the previous 10 times that Dodge City had trailed at the half this season, the Conquistadors were bound and determined not to see the same script over again by keeping the pace with Neosho County in the opening minutes of the second half. Trailing by a score of 50-39 with 14:42 remaining in the game, a 6-0 run by DC3 would get the game within two possessions before the Panthers would answer with a timely trey to push the lead back out to eight. The Conquistadors would then see NCCC take their largest lead of the game at 65-51 with 7:36 remaining in the game and the opportunities for a comeback starting to slip away. A 9-2 run by Trey Grundy III and Trevon Evans would cut into the Panther lead and see Dodge City trail 67-60 with 4:55 remaining, but Neosho would once again find just enough offense to push the lead back out to double digits. In one last gasp effort, Dodge City would cut the lead to six at 73-67 with 1:50 left in the game and get within two on a Nick Noskowiak triple with 28 ticks remaining on the clock as the Panthers would leave the door open with missed free throws.

Forced to foul, DC3 would put Dion Union on the line where he would hit one of two free throws to put the score at 77-74 with 23 seconds remaining and a chance for DC3 to tie the game on their next trip down the court. Kourtney Ware's three with 15 seconds remaining would hit the back of the iron and bounce out into the hands of a Neosho County player as the Panthers would convert on two free throws to push the lead back out to five with eight seconds remaining and the game just about wrapped up. Mike Jones would bury a three with 0.9 seconds remaining to cut the Neosho lead to 79-77, but it would be too little too late as the Panthers would deflect the ensuing inbounds pass to run out the clock and escape with the upset. 

Each team hit 26 shots from the field as DC3 finished 26 of 61 (42.6%) and Neosho County 26 of 63 (41.3%). Free throw shooting would an issue for both teams as the Conquistadors managed to hit just 63 percent (17 of 27) shots from the charity stripe compared to 21 of 30 for the Panthers (70.0%). Dodge City held a 42-38 advantage on the glass, but saw NCCC take advantage of a 23-13 points of turnovers margin and 29 bench points. 

Jones would finish the game with a team-high 21 points on eight of 11 shooting from the field and grab six rebounds while Josh Boutte finished with 11 rebounds and nine points. Evans added 14 points while Noskowiak had seven points while going a perfect four of four from the free throw line.