Dodge City men's basketball fell at home to open the second part of Jayhawk Conference play, dropping a 79-68 decision against Barton. 

The loss moves the Conquistadors to 13-6 on the season and 9-4 in KJCCC action. The Conqs remain in first place but are now tied with Seward County and Butler atop the KJCCC standings. 

Both teams started slowly, with the lead flipping back and forth early. The lead remained no higher than three points until less than four minutes remaining in the first half. Barton, with a layup, went up 25-21 with just under four minutes remaining in the first half, but the Conqs countered again with the next four points to draw even at 25-25 with just over two minutes left in the half. The lead would flip to five as Barton hit a late three-pointer to take a 35-30 lead into halftime. The Conqs saw the deficit expand over the first four minutes of the second half to double figures as Barton led 44-34 and reached a high of 14. Conqs clawed back as a Richard Rojas two-point bucket pulled the Conqs back within five at 62-57; however, the lead was pushed back to double figures by Barton. A three-pointer by Derrick Rivers pulled the Conqs within three at 71-68 with 1:40 remaining, but things would unravel for the Conqs as Barton closed out the contest as the Conqs fell 79-68. 

In the loss, the Conqs shot just 38.1% in the contest and only 13-23 from the free throw line, while Barton shot 40.3% and 17-24 from the charity stripe. 

Rivers led the Conqs with 21 points, going 5-8 from three-point range, adding five rebounds and four assists. Rickey Loftin II, for the fifth straight game, tallied 18+ points as he finished with 18 on 8-14 shooting and grabbed six rebounds. Jayvion Nurse chipped in nine points, and Wesly Rosa added seven points and 15 rebounds. 

Conqs will continue the season on Monday, January 26th at 7:30 pm against Cowley in Arkansas City.