The Cloud County men gave Garden City all they could handle on Saturday night but the Busters edged Cloud 73-70. 

Cloud trailed by 12 with just over eight minutes to play but they refused to give in. Aamahne Santos led a spirted comeback that had the T-Birds within one with just 40 seconds to play.

After Alex Martin hit two free throws to get Cloud within one at 71-70 the T-Birds would force a Garden City turnover and get the ball back with a chance to win it. Santos drove through traffic and was knocked to the ground in the paint as the ball went out of bounds. What appeared to be heavy contact went uncalled and Garden City regained possession and held on to win 73-70. 

Santos hit big shots all night to keep Cloud in the ballgame. He and Devonte Dixon connected from deep early on to help help the T-Birds jump out to a 17-16 lead with 12:15 in the 1st half. The Busters would eventually take a 33-29 lead over the T-Birds into the halftime break.  

The Thunderbirds came out of the halftime break and got quick buckets from Demonte Ojinnaka and and Dixon to pull within two at 35-33. The game remained tight until the 10:30 mark when Garden City went on a 10-1 run to stretch the lead to 12. Ojinnaka responded with his first three point bucket in the past three games to keep Cloud within reach. He would then hit both ends of a 1-1 and Santos drained an 18 foot jump shout to pull back within seven at 60-53. However, Garden City erased the run with five straight of their own at the 8:05 point to go back up by 12.

Cloud would begin chipping away and got back to back threes from Ojinakka and Dixon with 2:16 to play setting the stage for the comeback, but they fell just short in the end as they fall to 8-15, and 1-11 in Jayhawk play with the loss.  

Santos led all scorers with 21 points. He was 5 of 6 from the field and 9-10 from the free throw line. 21 points for Santos was a career high.

Dixon and Ojinnaka each had 13 points. Alex Martin started for the T-Birds and had a solid effort pitching in 7 points. He drew three charges on the night as well.

Cloud had their best shooting performance since their January 2nd victory at Butler. The T-Birds shot 44% from the field and 40% from deep on the night. 

Cloud will travel back to southwest Kansas on Monday for a matchup with Dodge City.