Broncbusters falter late; lose to Cowley at home

Garden City, KS-Marcus Zeigler had 18 points, six rebounds, and four assists, Shamarrie Hugie poured in 15 in 27 efficient minutes, and No. 8 Cowley held off Garden City, 76-69 Saturday night at Conestoga Arena. 

Emarquis Jones had 12 points, and Avante Nichols added 10 and seven boards for the Tigers, which won their seventh straight game to improve to a league-best 25-3 overall and 20 in the Jayhawk.  

Antonio Chol had 17 points, five boards, and two blocks for Garden City, which saw its four-game winning streak snapped. Emmanuel Manyuon scored 12 but was just 3-of-13 from the field.

Cowley controlled the game throughout building an early 10-point lead following Marcus Whitlock Jr's 3-pointer that made it 17-7 with 14:30 to play in the first half. They were up 11 after Zeigler nailed an open triple late in the period and pushed it to as many as 14 when Jones easily slivered to the rim for 2.  

But the Broncbusters responded valiantly with a 20-4 run, and when Josiah Sabino sank a technical free throw, Garden City was up 50-49 with 13:31 remaining.  

Unfortunately, the lead was short lived.  

Dallas Whitney restored order with a pair of free throws, Jones drilled a backbreaking 3-pointer, and Cowley scored nine straight points to build their lead back to eight.  

The Broncbusters got back to within one on Boston Harker's coast-to-coast layup that made it 60-59 with 6:25 remaining. But with a chance to retake the lead the next time down the floor, the sophomore guard missed a driving right-handed scoop that caromed off the backboard. Avante Nichols grabbed the rebound; then located Hugie in transition for and and-1 layup, and the Tigers were back up by four. It was all part of a critical 8-0 Cowley run.