By MIKE KESSINGER

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mkessinger@gctelegram.com

Before the game Saturday at Perryman Athletic Complex, the Garden City Community College men's basketball team found out they would be without four team members.

Suspended by head coach Kris Baumann for what he said was conduct detrimental to the team, the Broncbusters took the court without starting guard Damien Young and reserves Blake Baird, Nic White and Tim Brown.

"We didn't know about it until this morning," Broncbusters guard Corey Claitt said. "Everybody had to come together, and like I told them before the game, 'we're all we got.' We stuck together and we fought like a team."

Left with eight players, the Broncbusters found enough offense to hold off Colby for a 75-73 Jayhawk Conference win. It is Garden City's second straight victory following a two-game losing streak.

"Some guys don't understand the responsibility of playing basketball at Garden City Community College," Baumann said of the suspensions. "You have certain responsibilities as a student-athlete. If you don't hold up your responsibilities then you don't get to put on a uniform."

The Busters did all they could to separate themselves from Colby (6-17, 2-7) early. A Sterling Link one-handed bank from inside the paint up Garden City up 2-0. The lead grew early as a Jordan Ragan 3-pointer and Link putback gave the Busters an 11-3 lead. From there the Busters held Colby from making a run in the first 20 minutes. Even with the Trojans' Koance Davis knocking down shots from both inside and outside Garden City refused to let the Trojans back into contention.

At least for the first half.

"It doesn't matter who is way ahead," Baumann said of playing Colby. "I don't know what it is, they always play us tough. They've got some really good players. The Davis kid played a whale of a game tonight."

Davis spear-headed the Trojans attack after halftime as he dropped in 19 of his game-high 28 points after the break. He also was trouble for the Busters on the boards as he finished with 18 rebounds.

The Busters responded by going to Link and Trevor Ottley in the middle in addition to having plenty of production from Claitt and his outside play. Yet despite this, the contributions of Tyrone Flemming slashing to the basket scoring eight of his 13 points on dunks or Ragan distributing pases Colby still found its way back into the game.

Most of it because of Davis.

The Trojans knotted the score at 62-62 before Link answered with a jumper, then Claitt took a steal and went coast-to-coast for a layup. Garden City (16-6, 5-4) never got its lead above four until Ragan hit two free throws with eight seconds left to make it 75-70. A Mike Boyd 3-pointer got Colby back within two, but the Trojans didn't attempt to foul Link who took the inbounds pass after timeout and time expired.

"We just wanted come in and try to back to be one of the top teams in our conference," Claitt said. "We just wanted to come out hard and come out with a victory. That's all that matters."

Claitt finished with 26 points for the Busters. Link had 14 points and came within a rebound of a double-double. Ottley did finish with a double-double as he had 10 points and 10 rebounds. Tyrone Flemming scored 13 for the Busters.

Baumann did not give a time line for how long the four players will be suspended.

Along with Davis, Mike Boyd finished with 15 points and Everson Lacerda had 10 for Colby.

The Busters will be home Tuesday against Jayhawk Conference foe Butler Community College at Perryman Athletic Complex. The game will tip-off at 7:30 p.m.

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COLBY (6-17, 2-7): Engel 1-5 0-0 3, Boyd 6-18 1-4 15, Peguero 4-15 0-0 8, Lacerda 4-8 2-3 8, Davis 13-27 0-2 28, Doll 1-2 3-3 6, Hill 0-0 0-0 0, Graham 0-0 0-0 0, Ottoway 1-4 0-0 3. Totals -- 30-79 6-12 73.

GARDEN CITY (16-6, 5-4): Flemming 6-13 1-4 13, McNabb 0-1 0-0 0, Tarvin 1-6 2-4 4, Ottley 4-11 2-4 10, Link 7-16 0-2 14, Ragan 2-4 2-2 8, Gantz 0-0 0-0 0, Claitt 8-21 9-11 26. Totals -- 28-72 16-27 75.

Halftime -- Garden City 36-27. 3-Point goals -- Colby 7-20 (Boyd 2-9, Davis 2-3, Ottoway 1-4, Engel 1-2, Doll 1-1, Peguero 0-1); Garden City 3-13 (Ragan 2-2, 1-4, Tarvin 0-4, Flemming 0-1, McNabb 0-1, Ottley 0-1). Rebounds -- Colby 48 (Davis 18); Garden City 54 (Flemming 16, Ottley 10). Fouled out -- Colby, Davis. Assists -- Colby 10 (Boyd 4); Garden City 8 (Ragan 4). Blocks -- Colby 7 (Lacerda 3); Garden City 7 (Link 4).