OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Last week, the No. 10-ranked Johnson County men's basketball team lost 73-72 at Iowa Western. On Saturday afternoon, the Cavaliers avenged that loss with a 75-73 win over the Reivers, making Mike Jeffers' 1,000th game as a head college coach even more memorable.
However, at halftime, it appeared the Cavaliers were going to have runaway victory. Johnson County built a 20-point margin playing a near perfect half of basketball. They shot 71 percent, hitting 20-of-28 shots, including seven 3- pointers. JCCC also outrebounded Iowa Western 19-to-8.
Iowa Western came in the second half and nearly pulled out the win, but Johnson County managed to hold of the Reivers to earn the 2-point victory and improve to 14-2 heading into the winter break.
Sophomore 6-10 center Lukas Milner led the Cavaliers with 16 points on 8-of-10 shooting, along with nine rebounds, two assists and three blocked shots.
Sophomore guard Kylan Thomas contributed earned his first career double-double with 15 points and 12 rebounds. Sophomore guard JaQuaylon Mays flirted with a triple-double, finishing with 12 points, eight boards and eight assists, and freshman guard Dale Talley III scored 11 points of the bench for the Cavaliers.
The Cavaliers will return to the floor January 8, 2020, when they travel across town to face Metropolitan Community College.