DODGE CITY, Kan. (Interstat) — In a game defined by free throws and offensive struggles, the Dodge City Conquistadors edged the Cowley Tigers 78-75 in a men’s junior college basketball game on Saturday.

The contest was ultimately decided at the foul line, where Dodge City capitalized on its opportunities, making 26 of 31 attempts. Cowley, while efficient in its own right at 20 for 26, could not keep pace from the charity stripe in the final moments.

Derrick Rivers was the central figure for the Conquistadors, pouring in a game-high 31 points. His clutch performance was highlighted by a pair of made free throws with just eight seconds remaining in the game, extending the Dodge City lead to three points and forcing Cowley into a desperation heave that missed as time expired. Rivers also added eight rebounds and three assists.

Brad Johnson provided critical support for Dodge City, scoring 22 points, including several key three-pointers in the second half that helped build a lead that Cowley spent the final minutes trying to erase.

The Tigers were led by a strong offensive outing from Roman Miller, who scored 24 points, and Leslie Owens Jr., who added 21 points and eight rebounds. Kyden Thompson facilitated the offense with a team-high six assists.

Despite the close final score, the game was a tale of offensive inefficiency, particularly for Cowley. The Tigers managed to convert just 24 of their 66 field goal attempts and were a frigid 7 for 28 from beyond the three-point arc. Their 75 points came from 79 possessions, resulting in an offensive rating of 94.5.

Dodge City was more effective with its opportunities, shooting 22 for 53 from the floor and 8 for 21 from three-point range. The Conquistadors scored 78 points on 75 possessions, for a more robust offensive rating of 104.4.

Defensively, Dodge City forced the issue, recording 10 steals compared to Cowley’s four. Both teams were nearly even on the boards, with Cowley holding a slight 37-36 rebounding advantage, including 14 offensive rebounds.

The loss drops Cowley’s season record to 3-2. The Tigers will look to rebound when they host Cloud County on Tuesday.

The victory improves Dodge City to 7-3 on the season. The Conquistadors’ next game is on the road at Cloud County on Saturday.