By Kenton Brooks

Phoenix Sports Writer

WARNER — Every coach wonders how his team will respond after a loss. Connors State’s Bill Muse is no different.

The Cowboys were coming off their first loss of the season to Redlands College last week and they bounced back impressively in beating Northern of Tonkawa 70-53 in a Region II game at Melvin Self Field House on Monday night.

“I thought we did extremely well. I’m pleased,” Muse said. “We executed well.”

Stephon Weaver particularly executed well for the Cowboys as the 6-foot-3 sophomore from Forest City, Ark., helped a 14-0 run in the first half that lifted Connors from a 12-9 deficit with 13:09 left to a 23-12 lead with 8:15 remaining.

Weaver also had 13 second-half points to finish with a game-high 19 points.

“He was the best player on the court,” Muse said.

Orlando Brown, the 6-1 freshman from Stringtown, got the crowd excited with his driving layup during the 14-0 run and later when he made back-to-back 3-point baskets. He ended up with 13 points.

“Orlando gave us a huge lift,” Muse said. “He had a really good first half.”

Connors, improving to 6-1 for the season, led 38-25 at halftime.

Connors’ men play at Northern-Enid at 8 p.m. Thursday and at Arkansas Baptist at 4 p.m. on Saturday. The Cowgirls face Bacone College junior varsity at 7 p.m. on Wednesday and then they play at the University of Arkansas-Fort Smith Classic at 5:30 p.m. on Friday and at noon on Saturday.

The next home game for Connors men and women is next Monday against Western as the women play at 6 p.m. and the men at 8 p.m.

Connors women 89, Northern-Tonkawa 59