CHANUTE, Kan. - The Hesston College men's basketball team faced a tough road test against Neosho County Community College, ultimately falling 79-66 on Saturday (Feb. 22).

Despite a strong second-half push, the Larks were unable to overcome a seven-point halftime deficit. Neosho set the tone early, building a 34-27 lead at the break and extending their advantage to as much as 19 points late in the second half.

Trent Thompson led the way for Hesston, putting up a team-high 26 points on an efficient 7-of-10 shooting, including four three-pointers. He also added nine rebounds, two assists, and four steals in a well-rounded performance. Brycten Harris added 21 points, shooting 6-of-11 from the field and a perfect 6-for-6 from the free-throw line.

Hesston struggled to find offensive consistency, shooting 35.1% from the field but managed to convert 50% from beyond the arc (10-of-20).

The Larks will begin the final week of their conference schedule as they take on Kansas City Kansas Community College on Monday (Feb. 24) at 7:30 p.m.