EMMIE BOESE
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Barton CC is the first team from Kansas to secure a spot in the semifinals of the 2024 NJCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship. The No.1 Cougars beat the No.8 Northwest Florida State Raiders 87-73.
It was mainly an inside game, as both teams shot less than 30% from the 3-point line.
The Cougars led 42-35 at halftime and stayed out in front for the rest of the game. Barton proved successful by attacking the rim against the Raiders.
They scored 50 points in the paint to Northwest Florida's 30 and shot 50% from the field. The Cougars also shot 72.7% from the free throw line (24-33).
Six off the Cougars roster scored in double figures. Freshman guard Brent Moss led Barton with 18 points. Moss was 6-10 overall and 6-6 from the 3-point line off the bench.
On the defensive end, Barton recorded 19 steals. Sophomore guard Cooper Jackson had seven steals.
Freshman guard Jamal Sumlin and sophomore guard/forward Tavion Banks had 16 points each for Northwest Florida State.
Barton will play the winner of No.13 Odessa College and No.5 Indian Hills in the last four of the tournament on Thursday, March 28, at 5 p.m.
Tomorrow night's play-by-play will be taken care of by Glen Grunwald and Bryan Miller on Country 102.9 and KWBW 1450 AM/98.5 FM.