WNCC men topple EWC in sub-region contest

                TORRINGTON, Wyo. -- Tyler Crosbie finished with 24 points and the Western Nebraska Community College got some gutsy play down the stretch in pulling out an 89-84 south sub-region win over Eastern Wyoming College Friday at Torrington, Wyo.

                WNCC coach Russ Beck was pleased with the fight his team showed in the contest.

                “It was our first sub-region road win of the year and it was a game where we had to come from behind, so I am proud of the guys,” Beck said. “They kind of dug deep and made some good plays. We hit enough free throws down the stretch. The Lancers just wouldn’t go away as they kept hitting big shots after big shots. Once we got the lead, they [the Lancers] just hung in there and it made us nervous, but I am really proud that we could go on the road in a rivalry game against a good team like EWC and get the win.”

                There was a stretch in the second half where Crosbie scored nine of 11 points to help the Cougars claw back from a 72-67 deficit. Beck said that Crosbie hit some clutch contested shots.

                “He did a great job finishing with a hand in his face with bigger opponents down there,” Beck said. “Crosbie had a great game and also Brandon [Morley] had a good game until he fouled out early. A lot of guys stepped up. That tip from Derrick to secure the rebound at the very end was huge. It was as big of a play that was made all game.”

                The hustle by both teams was huge in an atmosphere that saw both college’s student sections alive with excitement. And, that atmosphere went over to the court as the hustle in the game was huge, according to Beck.

                “There were plenty of intangible things that we had that were key,” he said.

                The contest was so close that neither team had more than a four or five point lead the whole night. The game, in fact, featured eight lead changes and 10 ties.

                The big key in the contest was the Cougars holding the Lancers scoreless for about a three minute span late in the game. At that point, EWC was up 76-73 after a bucket by Jonathan Doss. It was then the Cougars cranked up the offense, going on a 9-0 run behind four points from Diante Mitchell, an offensive putback by Julio Guity, and an old-fashioned 3-point play by DouDou Gueye with two minutes to play.

                The 9-0 run gave WNCC an 82-76 lead with 1:15 to play. But, the Lancers battled back constantly hitting big buckets to keep game in check. The Lancers got big 3-pointers from Doss, Mark hall, and Tyler Owens to slice the lead to one, 85-84.

                That was when the Cougars had the biggest plays. Tyler Crosbie missed the front end of free throw, but the Cougars athleticism came up big as Derrick Bowers tipped the ball to the backcourt and Joel Einfeldt gobbled in the ball by the scorer’s table and then was fouled.

                Einfeldt hit both free throws for an 87-84 lead and then Crosbie got a deflection off the inbounds and Bowers secured the ball and dunked to seal the game.

                EWC had four players in double figures. Doss led the way with 19 points followed by Jason McClellan with 17 points followed. Hall finished with 16 while Kalil Potts had 13.

                WNCC also had four in double figures. Crosbie led the way with 24 followed by Morley with 18, and Mitchell with 11 points.

                WNCC won the contest on a night where they hit shots from within the 3-point area, burying just three long-range shots. EWC had 11 3-pointers.

               

WNCC                   39 50 – 89

EWC                       39 45 – 84

WNCC

Tyler Crosbie 24, Youssoupha Kane 7, Diante Mitchell 11, DouDou Gueye 7, Joel Einfeldt 9, Derrick Bowers 9, Brandon Morley 18, Julio Guity 5.

EWC

Mark Hall 16, Kalil Potts 13, Jonathan Doss 19, Alex Padgett 2, DaShawn Benson 8, Tyler Owens 5, Nelson Kahler 4, Jason McClellan 17.