In a big game for playoff positioning, the Dodge City men's basketball team looked for some retribution against Fort Hays Tech Northwest from an earlier season loss that came in a close ball game on the road. The second time around between the Conquistadors and the Tigers was another tight contest and just like the first went the way of the Tigers this time 87-84 as the Conqs lead slipped away late. 
 
The loss moves the Conqs to 10-16 on the season and 7-13 in KJCCC action with four games remaining in the regular season. 
 
Tech looked to take the early lead and had several chances on the initial possession of the game but came up empty and the Conqs would be the first to score on a Daouda Cisse dunk. The Conqs would work to a 12-5 lead five minutes into the contest and double up the Tigers at 14-7 nearly six minutes into the matchup. The lead continued to grow for the Conqs jumping to double figures at 23-12 with 11:26 remaining in the first half, working to as high as an 18-point advantage with 9:06 remaining after a Wesly Rosa layup. Tech had an answer to chip at the Conqs lead and outscored the Conqs 26-15 over the final nine minutes of the first half to make it just a 48-41 at intermission. 
 
In the second half, the Conqs would continually keep the lead around 10 points until just under eight minutes remaining Tech would start to whittle the lead down. With five and a half minutes remaining the Conqs lead was down to six at 77-71 then down to three at 78-75 with just over four minutes left. A free throw by the Conqs made it a four-point game but Tech drained a pair of free throws to draw within two. Lead remained with the Conqs until just over two minutes left Tech stepped the charity stripe and drained a pair of free throws to take their first lead at 81-80. A Derrick Rivers jumper flipped the lead back to the Conqs but Tech would get two more free throws and a layup to go up 85-82. Mynor Strong stepped to the charity stripe for the Conqs and drained two to pull the Conqs within one at 85-84, but Tech would dwindle the clock and hit two more free throws to lead 87-84. The Conqs would get a final look, but it would be a contested three-pointer for Strong that would misfire sending the Conqs to an 87-84 loss. 
 
Conqs in the loss shot 43.9% while holding Tech to just 38.4%. The Conqs also forced 16 Tech turnovers while only recording nine turnovers in the loss; Tech controlled the boards outrebounding the Conqs 51-34. 
 
Cisse matched his career-high in points and rebounds finishing with a double-double recording 15 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. Jayse Boatwright tallied 17 to lead the Conqs, while Derrick Rivers and Strong each had 14 points. 
 
Conqs are back on the road on Saturday, February 22nd as they take on Colby at 4:00 pm.