by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Kansas City Kansas Community College couldn’t make a four-point halftime lead stand up Saturday and dropped a 72-55 decision to Northeastern Colorado in the Garden City Classic.
The loss left the Blue Devils winless in three starts heading into a road game at North Arkansas Tuesday. KCKCC then returns home for the annual Keith Lindsey Classic this weekend, as host to Link Year Prep Friday at 8 p.m. and Livin’ The Dream Saturday at 6 p.m.
Northeastern limited the Blue Devils to just five field goals and 19 shots in the second half to overcome a 37-33 deficit. The Plainsmen also helped their own cause by hitting 12 of 21 second half shots for 57.1 percent. The Blue Devils were further bogged down by a season high 27 turnovers
Sophomore Jon Murray and freshman Lane Hartley led KCKCC with 14 points each before both fouled out. Murray was 10-of-10 from the foul line, Hartley 5-of-5 as KCKCC made 22 of 27 free throws. However, they managed just 42 attempts from the field, netting 14 for 33.3 per cent. Garrick McCuller added eight points, Donald Metoyer six and Mike Lee five along with four assists.