Despite 35 points from Christian County’s NaDarien Rowe on Monday, the Colonels couldn’t find enough second-half offense in a 71-59 loss to hosts Owensboro.
The Colonels dropped their fifth in a row ahead of their regular-season finale on Thursday at Webster County.
Keaton Hughes and Michael Acton combined for 13 in the first quarter for the Red Devils, but Rowe was on fire with four three-pointers on the way to 16 points. Zion Acree added six for the Colonels to build an early 22-18 advantage.
Rowe scored another 13 in the second frame, including two more threes, to finish just short of 30 points for the half. However, Hughes and Acton continued to power the Owensboro attack with 15 more points to trim the margin to 40-38 at the break.
With Rowe unable to maintain his scoring pace, the Colonels struggled to find buckets in the second half. Acton had nine in the third, and the Red Devils held Christian County to only nine points to surge in front 52-49 with a quarter to play.
Acton added five in the fourth to finish with a team-high 27 points, including 10/10 at the free-throw line. Owensboro’s Cade Arnold scored seven of his 12 points in the final frame to help the Red Devils outscore the Colonels 19-10.
Christian County slipped to 5-21, while Owensboro improved to 12-13 with a trip to Henderson County coming up on Friday.
Christian County 22 18 9 10 — 59
Owensboro 18 20 14 19 — 71
Christian County (5-21) — Rowe 35, Acree 6, Bigbee 5, Johnson 5, Wharton 5, Bridges 3
Owensboro (12-13) — Acton 27, Hughes 19, Arnold 12, Hume 7, Day 4, Richardson 2, Payton 1
