CHANUTE — Another slow start put Allen County Community College’s Red Devil men behind the eight-ball. That’s not where a team wants to be in Jayhawk Eastern Division conference play.
Despite a 41-point performance from sophomore guard Jason Smith, the Red Devils lost 94-85 Wednesday to host Neosho County Community College’s Panthers. It was the conference opener for both teams.
Neosho County was up 46-35 by halftime. Allen County shot just 38 percent from the field in the opening 20 minutes of the game.
The Panthers had Trey Anderson with 20 points and Brison White with 11 by intermission. Only Smith was in double-figure scoring (16) when the break came.
Allen County outscored Neosho County 50-48 in the second half but never could catch up. The loss dropped the Red Devils to 0-1 in conference play and 1-7 overall.
Allen County hosts Highland Community College’s Scotties Saturday. Tip-off time is 8 p.m. in the ACCC gym.
It will be the Red Devils’ final home game before Christmas. They travel to Northern Oklahoma College-Tonkawa Tuesday then play in the Hutchinson Community College Classic, Dec. 10-11.
Overall against Neosho County, the Red Devils shot 47 percent, 30 of 64, from the field.
Neosho County shot 45.5 percent, 30 of 66.
At the free-throw line, the Panthers cashed in on 28 of 34 attempts while the Red Devils hit 19 of 24 tries. The Panthers outrebounded the Red Devils 39 to 36 and Allen County had 20 turnovers to Neosho County’s 17.
Smith not only scored 41 points but he led the Red Devils in rebounding with nine and dished out seven of the team’s 10 assists. Sophomore Keevis Tukes hit five three-pointers as he scored 18 points but fouled out of the game. Tukes had three steals.
Terrell Shears added 10 points and seven rebounds for ACCC.
Anderson ended up with 35 points, hitting 15 of 20 charity shots, for Neosho County. White finished with 20 points and Devon Crabtree had 16.
Allen County (35-50—85) (FG/3-pt): Hollis 0/1-0-0-3, Smith 15-11-4-41, Tukes 0/5-3-5-18, Kelly 2-0-3-4, McDowell 0-0-1-0, Rourk 0-0-1-0, Shears 4-2-2-10, Benton 0-0-2-0, Daniel 2-3-3-7. TOTALS: 24/6-19-21-85.
Neosho County (46-48—94) (FG/3-pt): Magee 1-2-2-4, DuBose 2-0-2-4, Bass-Brooks 2-0-1-4, White 8/1-1-5-20, Anderson 10-15-2-35, Hickert 0/1-6-4-9, Buchanan 0-2-2-2, Crabtree 1/4-2-2-16. TOTALS: 24/6-28-20-94.
Panthers hold off Red Devils
