by Alan Hoskins, KCKCC
Longtime rival Allen County broke open a tight contest early in the second half and raced to an 84-64 win over Kansas City Kansas Community College Tuesday.
It was the first meeting of the two teams in three years. For more than 30 years, the two teams collided twice a year as members of the Jayhawk Division I Conference. KCKCC moved to Division II in 2013-2014. The two teams will meet again next Tuesday in Iola as part of a men-women doubleheader.
Allen County improved to 5-1 with the win while the Blue Devils fell to 1-4 heading into a road game against Park University junior varsity in Parkville Friday at 7 p.m.
Allen County led just 33-29 before scoring the final five points of the half for a 38-29 lead and then surged to a 46-34 lead in the first two minutes of the second half and maintained a double digit lead the rest of the way.
All five starters scored in double figures for the Red Devils led by 23 points and seven rebounds from Darius Love.
Freshman Andre Boykins, who was 4-of-8 from the field including 2-of-3 3-pointers, was the lone Blue Devil in double figures.
Boykins also shared the KCKCC rebounding lead with Daiyon Taylor, each with six. Calvin Slaughter added 8 points, Jalen Davis, Kelyn Bolton and Taylor Turner 7 each and Jonathan Richmond and Malcolm Tate 6 apiece.
The Blue Devils were guilty of 17 turnovers but forced 19 by Allen County. The Red Devils led the rebounding 36-28 and were 29-of-55 from the field for a crisp 52.7 percent. Meanwhile KCKCC was 23-of-52 for 44.2 percent from the field and .471 from 3-point (8-of-17).