Saints Win Thriller in Double Overtime Over Cloud County

LIBERAL, Kan. – It took two overtime periods, but the 19th ranked Seward Saints got an 88-86 win over Cloud County on Wednesday night in The Greenhouse.

In what was a rowdy night that had Saints fans on their feet down the stretch, Seward used multiple clutch buckets and free throws to claw back into the game and ultimately squeak out a win.

Protected The Greenhouse.

HUGE Shoutout to ALL @SewardSaints teams & fans for showing support last night. We couldn't have done it without you. #GoodToBeGreen #GoSaints ⚔️ pic.twitter.com/1s9LYEiKeg

— Seward Men's Basketball (@Seward_Hoops) January 22, 2026

With the win, the 19th ranked Saints (14-5, 9-4 KJCCC) move back into a tie for first place in the conference with Butler and Dodge City. Cloud County (11-8, 6-7) had its five-game winning streak snapped.

Facing multiple double-digit deficits in the second half, the Saints used an 18-5 run down the stretch from the 7:45 mark to the 3:07 mark to take a 63-62 lead after trailing 57-45. RJ McKinnie capped the run with a triple.

The teams went scoreless over the next 1:30 before Manasseh Stackhouse hit a jumper to put Cloud back in front, then scored again with 40 seconds left to make it 66-63. After a Seward miss, Elidjah Savane sank two free throws to push the lead to five with 28 seconds remaining. McKinnie answered with a three-point play, but Savane hit two more free throws to make it 70-66 with 20 seconds left. McKinnie scored again to cut it to two, and after Savane went 1-of-2 at the line with 12 seconds to go, Korbin Dowdell drilled a game-tying three with eight seconds left. Cloud turned it over on the next possession, but Lucas N'Gombo's last-second three missed, sending the game to overtime.

The first overtime period did not see many points with each team scoring just six. With three seconds left Savane was fouled and sent to the free throw line. He made the first to put Cloud ahead 77-76 but missed the second and Brooks Powers grabbed the rebound, instantly passing it up court to Dowdell. Dowdell was fouled trying to catch the ball and was sent to the free throw line with less than a second remaining. He went 1-2 missing the first and making the second and the game went to double overtime.

McKinnie gave Seward an 84-81 lead in double overtime after a made three with 34 seconds to play. Cloud converted two free throws on its next trip down to cut its deficit to one. Dowdell was then fouled and made both free throws to see Seward lead 86-83 with 21 seconds left. Cloud's Syncere Burnette hit a deep stepback three with nine seconds to go to tie the game. McKinnie got the ball off the inbounds and raced down putting in a floating layup with 0.8 seconds to go but after the make, Seward's N'Gombo was called for a delay of game technical foul. The basket counted but Cloud got to shoot one free throw and receive the ball after with 0.8 seconds on the clock. Burnette missed the free throw and then Cloud attempted to hoist a halfcourt three to win the game but the shot did not get off in time and the Saints claimed the victory.

McKinnie scored all of his team-high 22 points in the second half and both overtimes combined. N'Gombo had 19 points and 13 rebounds and Dowdell finished with 17 points. JJ Chapman tied his career-high with 16 points alongside eight rebounds and four blocks.

Savane had a game-high 24 points to go with eight rebounds off the bench for Cloud. Burnette posted 15 points, eight rebounds and six assists.

Cloud County shot 42.4% from the field while Seward shot 43.1%. Each team made six threes with Cloud shooting 6-15 and Seward 6-27. The Saints outrebounded Cloud 50-41 but turned the ball over 21 times compared to Cloud's 18. Seward had 50 points in the paint to Cloud's 34.

The game saw nine ties and four lead changes. It went to halftime tied 31-31. Seward led 10-5 early and pushed it to 15-7 off a Chapman dunk. The T-Birds did not lead in the first half.

Seward is now 2-1 in overtime games on the season. They fell 87-83 at Indepenence in overtime on Jan. 3rd and defeated Cowley 91-83 on Jan. 14th with both coming on the road.

Seward plays next at Colby on Sunday with tipoff set for 5 p.m. from the Colby Event Center.