OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – The No. 11-ranked Johnson County men's basketball team pulled out a 63-57 victory over Highland Saturday afternoon, despite not have the services of their top two leading scorers, JaQuaylon Mays and Lukas Milner. Mays suffered an early injury in JCCC's loss at Kansas City Kansas on Wednesday night, and Milner has been battling the flu all week long. 

With them out of the line-up, the rest of the team had to step up their level of play, and they did. Sophomore Macaleb Hughes led the Cavaliers with 13 points and nine rebounds. He also had three steals and two assists. 

"Macaleb played with so much heart," said JCCC Hall of Fame coach Mike Jeffers. "So much toughness and togetherness today. I am so proud of these guys." 

Freshman Dale Talley III followed with 12 points, and freshman Caleb Isralite came in off the bench to add 11. Those two combined to go 10-for-12 at the free throw line. 

Sophomore Kylan Thomas had a solid effort as well, finishing with eight points and eight boards. 

Highland was led by Marquise Milton with 17 points 

Johnson County (21-5 / 4-2) travels to Fort Scott, Kan., to face the Greyhounds on Saturday, February 12 in another Kansas Jayhawk D-II Conference tilt. The Cavaliers are in second place in the standings behind Kansas City Kansas.