Free throws help the Tigers sink the Pirates 76-69

The No. 9-ranked Cowley College men's basketball team made a season-high 27 free throws in a 76-69 home win over Independence College on Wednesday.

Cowley improves to 12-1 overall and 7-0 in the Jayhawk Conference. The Pirates are now 6-6 overall and 2-4 in the conference.

On Wednesday, Cowley raced out to a 17-5 lead and led by as many as 18 points (31-13) midway through the first half before going into halftime with a 41-33 advantage.

Marcus Whitlock Jr., who was averaging 30 points per game over the previous two contests, scored 12 first-half points, and the Tigers added 19 points of bench production.

The Pirates continued to chip away at the Tigers' lead and eventually went in front 49-47 on a jumper by Julian Kiett with 12:05 remaining.

The teams would trade baskets over the final 12 minutes, with Cowley clinging to a 69-68 lead following a basket by Independence's Chiante Tramble with 1:08 left to play. However, that would be the final basket for the Pirates as the Tigers would make 7of-8 free-throw attempts over the game's final minute and held on for the 76-69 win.

Cowley shot just 40 percent in the victory but made up for it by going 27-of-33 from the charity stripe.

Sophomore Marcus Zeigler went 8-of-8 from the foul line and led Cowley with 18 points, while Whitlock finished with 16. Avante Nichols came off the bench to add 14 points for the Tigers.

Kiett led all scorers with 23 points in the defeat. Tramble added 13 points but also had nine turnovers.

The Tigers will wrap up play in the first semester when they play at Coffeyville (10-2) on Saturday at 4 p.m.