HAYS — The No. 14 ranked Barton Cougars, the defending NJCAA men's basketball champion, lost a showdown 72-62 to Region 6 champion Cowley College Saturday.  The Tigers are guaranteed a top eight NJCAA seed and swept three games from the Cougars this season.

The Tigers outscored the Cougars 33-6 on 3-pointers to easily offset Barton's 42-26 edge from inside the stripe. Cowley converted nine first-half 3-pointers for 27 points.

The No. 14 ranked Barton Cougars are still virtually assured of an NJCAA Tournament berth after downing Jayhawk League runner-up No. 21 ranked Coffeyville 89-74 in Friday's Region 6 semifinal.

Barton Cougar coach Jeremy Coombs believes the Cougars (25-8) are a virtual lock for an NJCAA invitation which will be announced at 6 p.m. Sunday on the NJCAA website.

"I don't know how we're aren't in," Coombs said. "I don't know who else they'd put in. Our power schedule is better. I feel good about it, but you never know."

Cougar starters Keandre Kindell, Brent Moss, Sebastian Muchitsch and Aris Rodriguez played a combined 109 out of 120 possible minutes. Muchitsch led a balanced Cougar offense with 14 points. Fontaine Willias (12), Keande Kindell (11) and Eltramon Smith. Jr. (10) scored in double figures.

Cowley's Marcus Whitlock scored 23 points.

"We executed some things down the stretch that allowed us to stay in the ballgame," Coombs said. "We fought back and took the lead. The last eight minutes it got away from us. It was a physical game. We're not built for a physical game like that. We didn't adjust well after after the middle of the first half."

Barton 37 25—62

Cowley 40 32—72

BARTON (25-8) (FG 3 FT TP)—Muchitsch 4-8 (1-1) 5-6 14, Williams 4-9 (0-2) 4-7 12, Kindell 4-18 (1-4) 2-2 11, Smith 4-8 2-3 10, Rodriguez 4-8 (0-3) 0-0 8, Moss 3-13 1-2 7, Totals 23-64 (2-10) 14-20 62

COWLEY (29-4) (FG 3 FT TP)—Whitlock 7-16 (4-9) 5-7 23, Hugie 4-12 (1-2) 1-2 10, Zeigler 3-10 (1-7) 2-4 9, Jones 2-4 (1-2) 2-4 7, Nichols 2-6 (0-3) 1-3 5, Majors 1-3 (1-1) 0-0 3, Thompson 2-4 (1-2) 0-0 5, Totals 24-62 (11-30) 13-22 72

Rebounds—BC 45 (Moss 8), CC 38 (Hugie 8, Nichols 8). Assists—BC 9 (Kindell 4), CC 14 (Nichols 5). Steals—BC 8 (Kindell 3), CC 11 (Jones 4)

JAYHAWK MEN

Cowley 21-3 29-4

Coffeyville 18-6 23-9

Barton 17-7 25-8

Hutchinson 15-9 19-12

Butler 15-9 22-11

Colby 12-12 18-14

Garden City 12-12 18-14

Hays Northwest 11-13 14-16

Dodge City 11-13 15-17

Independence 8-16 12-19

Cloud 7-17 14-18

Pratt 7-17 11-20

Seward 2-22 3-26

REGION 6 MEN

FIRST ROUND-—Dodge City 96, Fort Hays Tech Northwest  82; Butler 95, Pratt 78; Cloud County 85, Colby 83; Garden City 88, Independence 86 (OT)

QUARTERFINALS—Cowley 87, Dodge City 74; Butler 74, Hutchinson 73; Barton 100, Cloud County 87; Coffeyville 80, Garden City 67

SEMIFINALS, HAYS —Cowley 58, Butler 54; Barton 89, Coffeyville 74

3-15 FINALS HAYS—Cowley 72, Barton 62