Red Devils hand Panthers first Jayhawk East loss

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Sports

January 21, 2010 - 12:00 AM

Andra Bailey is the engine that drives Allen County Community College’s Red Devils. Bailey powered his team to a 73-71 victory at home Wednesday over visiting Neosho County Community College’s Panthers.
The Panthers, who came into the contest at 5-0 in Jayhawk Eastern Division play, made a run at the Red Devils in the second half. Bailey and Company didn’t lose their composure or the lead.
“You’re right. Andra was everywhere tonight. He had a great game,” said Mike Hayes, ACCC men’s head coach.
Bailey had another double-double with 18 points and 16 rebounds. The 6-4 forward from St. Louis, Mo., also led the Red Devils in steals with three and assists with five.
The Panthers trimmed an ACCC 11-point halftime lead to one, 43-42, by the 14:10 mark of the second half. Keevis Tukes, who had hit a three just before intermission, lifted the Red Devils again with a trey.
Dennis Rumph and Tukes had back-to-back baskets to put Allen County up 50-42. Erik Law and Aaron Jackson nailed three-pointers to put the Red Devils up 56-46 midway through the second half.
Allen County’s lead bounced from 10 to five points the rest of the way.
When Neosho County’s Antione Lundy had his third second-half dunk, he also was assessed a technical foul for hanging onto the rim.
Jackson missed both technical foul free throws and Law missed a shot with ACCC up by five, 69-64. Justin Fairman downed both ends of a one-and-one for the Panthers then Jackson drove to the rim but missed the shot for the Red devils.
Tukes tapped the basketball away at the Neosho County end right to Bailey. The basketball went to Jackson, who was fouled with 15.2 seconds left.
“Aaron, who had hit two free throws just before he shot the technical ones, was mad at himself. But boy was he clutch at the end,” Hayes said.
Jackson, who has taken over the point guard duties while Anthony Clagett is injured, stepped to the line and hit nothing but net. Up 71-68 with six seconds left, Jackson did it again for the Red Devils.
Neosho County’s Kris Wilson hit a three-pointer at the buzzer for the final margin.
Jackson finished with 16 points, 11 coming in the second half. He was 8 of 10 from the free-throw line. Allen County went 15 of 22 at the line for the game.
Bailey scored 11 points in the first half, leading the Devils to a 20-11 advantage. Allen County was up 41-30 at the break.
“We weren’t ready to play when we came out after halftime. Once we got back into the game, our guys really responded against a very good Neosho team,” Hayes said.
“All of our guys played well. We’ve played six games in 17 days plus we go to Coffeyville Saturday.”
The Red Devils shot 47 percent, 25 of 53, from the field. Law ripped the cords for 15 points and Tukes had 11 points.
Allen County held a 40 to 24 rebounding advantage over the Panthers. Rumph controlled 10 boards.
Neosho County was led by Lundy with 22 points and Fairman with 14. Tyrie Wooten had 10 points. The Panthers were 27 of 56, 48 percent from the field and 15 of 21 at the line.
Allen County (4-2, 9-8) go to Coffeyville (5-1, 11-7) Saturday for a 4 p.m. tipoff.
Allen County (41-32—73) (FG/3-pt): Jackson 1/2-8-3-16, Rumph 2-3-2-7, Tukes 1/3-0-3-11, Cole 2-0-0-4, Hayes 1-0-0-2, Law 2/3-2-1-15, Bailey 8-2-1-18, Lee 0-0-2-0. TOTALS: 17/8-15-12-73.
Neosho County (30-41—71) (FG/3-pt): Fairman 5-4-1-14, Larson 0/1-0-0-3, Buroughs 2-3-2-7, Bostic 02-2-2, Wilson 2/1-2-1-9, Arce 0-0-2-0, Wooten 4-2-5-10, Diallo 2-0-0-4, Lundy 10-2-4-22. TOTALS: 25/2-15-17-71.

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