KOKOMO, IND. -- SMWC won a sixth straight men's basketball game Saturday, clawing back from an 11-point deficit to beat IU Kokomo 72-70.
Cobie Barnes and Chaz Birchfield each had double-doubles to lead the Pomeroys to the win. Barnes had 15 of his 22 points in the second half and added 10 rebounds. Birchfield scored 15 points and grabbed 11 rebounds.
Trailing 44-35 at halftime, SMWC saw IU Kokomo (13-4, 3-4) take a 52-41 lead on a 3-pointer by Hunter Jackson.
The Pomeroys went on a 7-0 run sparked by three buckets by Cobie Barnes to pull within 52-48 at the 11:54 mark.
Jackson hit another 3-pointer for the Cougars, but DaMeriz Merriweather had a quick answer with a 3-pointer to keep it a four-point deficit.
The Cougars were able to maintain a small advantage until the 2:44 mark when a Cobie Barnes 3-pointer and a free throw from Greg Jenkins tied the score at 67-67.
The lead changed hands several times in the final two minutes. Chaz Birchfield converted in the lane for a 69-68 Pomeroys' lead.
Then Greg Johnson connected on a 3-pointer to put SMWC back in the lead with 1:05 to go. SMWC's defense forced four missed 3-pointers over the final minute to secure the victory.
 
NEWS AND NOTES

• SMWC turned 25 offensive rebounds into 26 second-chance points. Birchfield had a team-high seven offensive boards, while Shon Tupuola added six of his eight rebounds on the offensive end.
• The Pomeroys shot 44 percent in the second half.
• Jenkins had nine points, seven rebounds and four assists. 

 
UP NEXT
SMWC returns to action Thursday at home against West Virgina University Institute of Technology.