A win is a win in the Jayhawk Conference, especially on the road, and the Barton Community College men's basketball team found a way Saturday afternoon at the Dennis Lesh Sports Arena, outlasting Pratt Community College 85–78 in overtime.
Barton appeared poised to take control early, building an eight-point cushion five minutes into the contest. The Beavers pulled back to tie in the ensuing minutes, but consecutive Blake Rucker and Brian Sullivan, Jr. three-pointers pushed the Cougars back in front until late in the half. After Pratt grabbed its first lead since the opening minutes with 34 seconds left, Sebastian Muchitsch answered with an old-fashioned three-point play, converting a layup with five seconds remaining before adding the go-ahead free throw to send Barton into the break leading 41–40.
Muchitsch opened the second half by knocking down back-to-back three-pointers, later helping spark another six-point burst as the Cougars rebuilt separation. Behind a balanced attack and consistent pressure, Barton eventually pushed the gap to its largest of nine at 67–58 on a Noah Williams three-pointer with 7:55 left. Pratt refused to fold, chipping away possession by possession and leaning on timely perimeter shooting to erase the deficit. Barton still clung to a 73–70 edge inside the final two minutes, but the Beavers countered with back-to-back three-pointers to swing in front 76–73 with 1:01 remaining.
Needing an answer, the Cougars got it at the rim as Aris Rodriguez finished a tying layup with 22 seconds left. Pratt had a chance to steal it in the closing seconds, but a late turnover sent the game to overtime tied 76–76.
In the extra period, Barton delivered the final blow. Trailing briefly and playing without Muchitsch after he fouled out at the 3:05 mark, the Cougars clamped down defensively and closed the final 2:54 on an 8–0 run. Jayden Ramirez knocked down a pair at the line, Williams added three more free throws in the final minute, and Rucker capped it at the stripe sealing Barton's fourth straight victory at Lesh Arena.
Barton concludes its two-game road stretch improving to 11–7 in Jayhawk Conference play and 16–8 overall. Pratt drops its fourth consecutive, falling to 3–15 in the Jayhawk and 6–17 on the season.
The Cougars put their four-game win streak to the test on Wednesday, returning home hosting Fort Hays Tech Northwest in a 7:30 p.m. tip-off on "Pink Out Night." The Tigers previously erased a 15-point deficit on December 9 in Goodland to stun the then-No. 20 Cougars, setting the stage for a timely rematch at Fleske Fieldhouse.
Muchitsch led Barton with 22 points and 11 rebounds for his sixth double-double of the season, while Williams delivered an efficient 20-point, nine-rebound performance. Majok Chuol added nine points and five boards, with Rodriguez finishing with nine points and two assists, including the game-tying basket in the final minute of regulation. Ramirez also scored nine, doing much of his damage at the free throw line, while Sullivan, Jr. chipped in nine points and seven rebounds. Jon Byrd directed the offense with a team-high four assists.
Hunter Vaughn led Pratt with 20 points, Keletigui "Kele" Kane dropped 4-of-8 behind the arc in a double-double 16 points and 12 rebound effort. Held scoreless in the second half, Galvin Luketa finished with 14 points while Muna Godswill added 11 points and 7 rebounds