GREAT BEND, Kan. (Interstat) — A surging Barton team will look to avenge its only conference loss of the calendar year when it hosts the Independence Pirates in a men’s junior college basketball showdown Saturday.

The Cougars (19-8), winners of seven straight games, face an Independence squad (12-10) that handed them a 81-76 defeat on Jan. 7. That result stands as Barton’s lone loss in its last 11 contests.

Barton’s recent dominance has been fueled by forward Sebastian Muchitsch. The sophomore is coming off a 17-point, 13-rebound performance in a 102-94 road win at Butler (Kan.) on Wednesday. Over his last five games, Muchitsch is averaging 17.2 points and 10.2 rebounds, providing a consistent interior presence for the high-scoring Cougars, who have topped 100 points twice during their win streak.

Independence, meanwhile, has struggled for consistency, dropping three of its last four games. The Pirates fell 80-72 at Seward County on Wednesday despite 17 points and four assists from guard Sekou Kourouma. Kourouma, a key player for the Pirates, has shown flashes of high production, including a 17-point outing against Seward County, but his minutes and scoring have fluctuated in recent weeks.

The Pirates will need a collective effort to counter Barton’s balanced attack, which saw Noah Williams score 21 and Blake Rucker add 20 in the win over Butler. In the January meeting, Independence successfully slowed the pace against Barton. Replicating that defensive discipline on the road will be critical.

The matchup pits Barton’s potent offense, which averages over 90 points per game during its streak, against an Independence team seeking to stabilize its season ahead of the postseason push. A Barton win would solidify its top-tier conference standing, while an Independence upset would provide a crucial signature road victory.

Tip-off is set for Saturday afternoon at the Barton Gym.