Broncbusters escape Goodland with 100-98 victory over NW Tech

By Mike Pilosof

Goodland, KS-Just find a way to the finish line.

Mohamed Diara hit the go-ahead free throws with 15 seconds left, and the 17^th-ranked Broncbusters escaped with a 100-98 victory over Northwest Tech at Max Jones Field House on Wednesday night. The Nation's top recruit finished with a game-high 28 points and 17 rebounds, propelling Garden City to their 11^th win in their last 12 games.

"We just found a way," Head Coach, Bill Morosco said. "That's all that matters."

The Broncbusters improved to 19-6 overall and 13-6 in conference play. More importantly, thanks to Hutchinson losing to Dodge City, Garden City moved into sole possession of second place in the league.

"We are very fortunate that we won that game," Morosco said.

Garden City trailed by as many as 10 midway through the first half following a Timothy Moore slam. But Diarra answered on the other end with a dunk of his own, Josh Nwankwo nailed one of his career-best seven 3's, and the Broncbusters closed the half on a 28-21 run to pull within three at the break.

"We should have lost that game," Morosco added. "If we play like that, we won't win a game the rest of the season."

Northwest Tech built their lead back to seven four minutes into the second half after Lino Manhom turned a Diarra turnover into a transition layup to make it 59-52. But Garden City responded with an 8-1 run which included Nwankwo's 26-foot bomb, and the game was tied at 60.

"These guys have to understand that we have a chance to do something really special," Morosco explained. "But you have to show up every night."

No matter how many times the Broncbusters answered the bell, the Mavericks never let them pull away, turning a 96-92 Garden City lead into a 98-97 edge for the home team after Moore slashed to the rim with 21 seconds to go.

"We just made a lot of careless plays," Morosco said. "We didn't take care of the basketball at all."

With time winding down, Diarra drew a foul on Myles Arnold. Moments later, the sophomore sank two free throws to put the Broncbusters in front, Ethan Yancy missed a go-ahead layup with four seconds to go, and Diarra made 1-of-2 at the line to give Garden City a 100-98 advantage with two seconds on the clock. Still, the Mavericks had one last chance to win it, but Arnold's 3-pointer clanged off the rim at the buzzer.

Nwankwo finished with 21 points on 7-of-15 from downtown for Garden City. Heru Bligen added 18, Micah Octave tallied 10 points and eight rebounds, and Jyre McCloud scored 12 in 27 minutes.

Hantz Louis-Jeune paced the Mavericks with 19.

Next up: Garden City vs. Cowley-Saturday, Feb. 12-4 p.m.