A wild start to the second half saw five lead changes and two ties between Allen Community College and Sunrise Christian Academy of Wichita Wednesday.
Free throws by Allen’s David Teele midway through the session gave the Red Devils a 64-63 lead, setting up what promised to be a thrilling stretch run.
Sunrise had other ideas.
A brief lull in Allen’s offensive efficiency triggered a 14-3 Buffaloes run.
The lead expanded to 17 points down the stretch in Sunrise’s 96-85 victory.
The setback drops Allen to 6-4 on the season with games Friday and Saturday in Lincoln, Neb., on the horizon for the Southeast Classic. With only seven players at his disposal, Allen Coach Patrick Nee’s bunch couldn’t keep up with the 10-deep Sunrise roster.
The Buffaloes shot a scorching 61% from the floor after intermission, including 5 of 10 from 3-point range.
Allen had its share of highlights. Randy Crosby was dynamic at both ends of the court. He poured in 24 points, corralled eight rebounds, dished out eight assists and added five steals to boot. His fellow backcourt mate EJ Lewis added 20 points, including 4 of 7 from 3-point range.
Allen was able to keep pace in the first half, primarily due to some timely 3-point shooting. The Red Devils were 8 of 12 from long range. And despite trailing by as many as seven, Allen surged ahead, 48-47, going into halftime.
But Sunrise — one of the nation’s premiere college preparatory basketball academies — proved too much down the stretch.
Six Buffaloes scored in double figures, led by Colin Hawkins with 20.
The proceedings grew a bit feisty in the second half. Hawkins was whistled twice for technical fouls, the second coming after he and Lewis were tangled up going for a loose ball with about a minute left in the game.
The second technical netted Lewis’s automatic ejection.
Allen had three other players in double figures.
Killian Spellman and Dante Jackson both scored 14, while Teele wound up with 11.
Allen, which shot 52% from the field before halftime, was a cool 36% after the break.
