The Red Ravens have dropped three straight for the first time all season as they lost 65-57 to #21 Barton Cougars.

Freshman guard Casey Benton had a strong performance as he posted 19 points, 2 blocks, 2 steals, and 3 assists.  

The Red Ravens came out and pressed the Cougars and forced them to make perfect passes.  Despite facing tight defense from the Red Ravens, the Cougars were able to find sophomore Noah Webster several times.  Webster posted 21 points and 8 rebounds on the night.  Webster was 5/10 from behind the three point line on the night.

The Red Ravens also faced a tough defense as the Cougars crashed the boards and wouldn't allow sophomore Cedric Roland or freshman Anthony Jones in the paint without pouncing on them.  Roland and Jones were both blocked twice and every shot of theirs was heavily contested.  Even with the stout defense in the paint, the rebound margin wasn't large as the Cougars pulled down 48 and the Red Ravens 42.  Roland and Jones were able to grab 7 and 4 respectively.

The biggest disparity came from the free throw line as the Red Ravens went 5/11 and the Cougars converted 9/13.  Shooting 50% from the free throw line 

With time winding down in the game, Benton put the team on his shoulders as he made several contested shots including one where he leaped over three defenders in the paint for an acrobatic finger roll.  Benton pulled his team to within four with 1:30 left in the game, but Webster had different plans.  Webster nailed a three from the top of the arch to put the Red Ravens down seven.  The Red Ravens weren't able to recover from the dagger.

Benton and Roland look to get the Red Ravens back in the win column Saturday at Cowley.