By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
HUTCHINSON, Kan. — Cowley College used hot outside shooting to open up the inside of the offense early and Ranger College just couldn't keep up as the Tigers won 116-97 Friday night in the semifinals of the NJCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament at the Hutchinson Sports Arena.
The Tigers shot 20 of 44 from three-point range and had five players in double figures. Dalen Ridgnal had 26 points and 14 rebounds and a pair of rim-rattling dunks, Cevin Clark added 22, Moun'tae Edmonson had 19, Mikel Henderson had 16 and Shemarri Allen added 14.
Cowley led by 13 at the break 55-42 and Ranger narrowed the margin to as close as seven at 66-59 at the 16:00 mark before Cevin Clark made two technical free throws and backed it up with a made three to extend the lead out to 12.
Ranger trimmed it back to eight at 12:13 to play, but then Trey Tennyson committed his fourth foul and Henderson made both free throws to stretch the lead back to double digits. After a Ranger free throw, Dalen Ridgnal hit a three at the 11:36 mark and Ranger never got closer than nine after that.
The bright spot for the Rangers was Keisei Tominaga, he had 26. Also in double figures for Ranger College was Nika Metskhvarishvili with 22 and Tennyson with 16.
Cowley College will face the winner of Coffeyville and Chipola in the final on Saturday night. Ranger College ends its season at 22-5.