In the first meeting since the third place game on the 2012 NJCAA Tournament, the Seward County Saints defeated the Eastern Oklahoma State Mountaineers 93-79 Saturday night. It was the final game of the Pizza Hut Classic in the Green House.
The Mountaineers raced to a 32-18 first half lead and led 40-37 at the half after making 8-14 from three point range. But the Saints blistered the Mountaineers in the second half out pacing Eastern 56-39. Seward led points in the paint 40-16. Seward shot 42 percent but made 30-41 free throws in the win. Eastern was 13-32 from three point range. Seward out rebounded Eastern 51-38.
Branton McCrary and Roy Clarke scored 17 a piece. Nika Metskhvarishvili had 13 points and seven rebounds. Rostic Novitski had 11 points and seven rebounds. Stephen Takyi had 10.
Seward is 2-0 and Eastern is 0-2. The Saints play the Lamar JV Thursday night at 7 in the Green House for their one game in the Pepsi Classic. Tickets are available at both Liberal Hutch’s.
