For the second straight year, the Dodge City men's basketball team stepped on the court in Hutchinson for the NJCAA Division I National Tournament and competed in the first round this year taking down Meridian 83-63 to move into the Sweet Sixteen. 
 
The Conquistadors with the win improved to 24-9 on the season and continue their season moving into the Sweet Sixteen where they will play the #4 seed Moberly Area Community College at 12:00 pm on Wednesday, March 22nd. 
 
It was a sluggish start to the contest for the Conqs as they fell behind 7-2 over the first two and half minutes of the contest. Meridian continued to hold the lead until a Shawn Warrior dunk with 10:14 left to go in the first half when the Conqs would take a 12-11 lead. The lead would remain in the Conqs' favor most of the first half outside of 25-24 with 1:46 left in the half, but a 6-2 run by the Conqs to cap the first half had them up 30-27 at halftime. To open the second half Jason Edwards and the Conqs went on an 11-0 run to start the half with all 11 points coming from Edwards on a layup and three three-pointers growing the lead to 41-27. The lead would continue to blossom for the Conqs working its way to 20 points in the second half the Conqs would cruise to the 83-63 win after controlling the second half. 
 
The Conqs shot 45.2% in the contest while holding Meridian to 35.3% shooting and only 5-25 from three-point range. Conqs dominated the boards outrebounding Meridian 56-30 in the win. 
 
Edwards tallied a double-double with 26 points on 11-17 shooting including 4-7 from three-point range while grabbing 10 rebounds. Warrior added a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds off the bench and Tuscan Onuoha was strong off the bench also recording 11 points on 5-7 shooting with four rebounds. 
 
Up next the Conqs continue action in the NJCAA DI National Tournament when they take on the #4 seed Moberly in the Sweet Sixteen at 12:00 pm on Wednesday, March 22nd.