KC men come up short against No. 14 TJC in overtime, 75-69

TYLER, TX -- The Kilgore College men forced overtime in a back-and-forth contest but struggled to make shots in in the extra period Jan. 18 to lose to No. 14 Tyler Junior College, 75-69.

TJC's Quinton Henson began overtime with a clutch three-pointer to make the score 62-59.  KC's Ndene Gueye answered with a field goal to cut the Apaches' lead to one point at 63-62. 

Tyler's Eden Ewing answered with a field goal to make the score 64-63 followed by a missed shot by KC and another basket for TJC's Davante Cooper to put the Apaches up 66-63.

With 1:35 left in overtime, Tre Evans drew a foul and knocked down both shots to cut the Apache lead to 66-65.

Henson answered, drawing a foul on a made layup, and made the free throw to put TJC up 68-65 with 1:20 left in overtime.

With 40 seconds left, Ewing hit a huge three-pointer to put TJC up 72-65.

On the next possession, KC's Tre Evans was fouled with 17.2 seconds left and made both free throws to get within 5 points of the Apaches.

TJC's Newton answered with a field goal to put the Apaches up 73-69, then TJC scored one more time with two free throws by Brian Warren to make the final score 75-69.

"I told the guys in the locker room after the game that we're getting closer.  We just didn't put it all together tonight," said KC head coach Brian Hoberecht.

"I told them we need to stay focused and keep improving so we can play our best basketball by March, once we're in the regional tournament.  We made strides tonight, and I feel like we continue to make strides."

With the win, TJC improves to 15-1 overall and 7-1 in Region XIV play.

KC drops to 11-6 overall and 2-5 in conference play.

The Rangers are off Saturday, but will play Blinn College 7 p.m. Monday, Jan. 23, in Kilgore's Masters Gymnasium.