Cowboys Open Season With 99-51 Rout of Central Baptist JV

WARNER---Connors State Cowboys opened the 2018-19 basketball season with a 13-0 run and was never contested the rest of the way en route to a 99-51 victory over Central Baptist College Junior Varsity Thursday night at Melvin Self Field House.

All 10 Cowboys scored, including six in double figures. Southern Methodist University transfer Elijah Landrum led the scoring assault with 14 points. Burke Putnam, Jordan Graham and Marvin Lowe followed with 13 points each. Terrance Jones and Isiah Jones scored 12 each.

"I really liked our effort tonight," said Cowboys head Coach Bill Muse, quickly adding "and I liked the fact we had six guys score in double figures. We didn't have just one dominating player scoring. We had a lot of players get into the game."

Defensively the Cowboys were hurt by the Mustangs scoring from behind the arc, (11-18), however Muse wasn't too concern.

"We know these teams coming in have to shoot from long range. We will clean that up a little bit.

"But the way we teach we are only going to get better on defense. We have some quickness on the perimeter to stop that in the future," said Muse.

Lowe, one of three returning players from last season's Final Four team in the NJCAA National Tournament, scored the opening points of the season, 32 seconds into the game.

It was then all Cowboys the rest of the one sided game. Connors held a 51-21 lead at the intermission.

Muse was particularly pleased with the play of Putnam, who was a member of the Final Four club.

"He (Putnam) has made a big jump over last season. He had some good games last year. If he can just stay healthy he will be impressive, said Muse.

He was also pleased with the play of Tyrees Sidberry, a transfer from Western Wyoming Junior College.

"Sid has a great motor, who is active, plays hard and gets a lot of garbage. He plays well on defense that doesn't get a lot of notice," said Muse.

The Mustangs were led in scoring by JuShima DeBerry with 16 points, which included three from behind the arc.

Connors returns to action on Friday night when the Cowboys play host to Southwestern Christian Junior Varsity at 7 p.m.

CONNORS STATE 99, CENTRAL BAPTIST JV 51

Central Baptist JV 21  30—51

Connors State    51  48--100

Central Baptist (0-1)—DeBerry 16, Baker 6, Grant 6, Yarbrough 6, Mullins 5, Triplett 4, Spencer 3, Adell 3, Heffentrager 2.

Connors State (1-0)—Landrum 14, Putnam 13, Graham 13, Lowe 13, T. Jones 12, I. Jones 12, Sidberry 8, Tanksley 8, Riggs 4, C. Jones 4.