The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team were in control of the game through 1 ½ quarters. It was about then the Northwest (Wyo.) College Trappers picked up the intensity and came back to register a thundering 77-69 win against the Cougars in the second day of the EWC Holiday Classic in Torrington, Wyo.
The loss was the Cougars fourth of the year and second in the last five days. Ironically, both losses – the other coming Tuesday to Laramie County Community College – resulted in poor shooting for the Cougars.
WNCC was just 1 of 10 from the 3-point arc and were 12 of 20 from the charity stripe for the game. The Trappers weren’t much better, canning 4 of 11 shots from the 3-point area and 21 of 31 from the charity stripe.
WNCC, who shot 46 percent in the first half, led 39-30 at halftime. The second half, the Cougars shooting fell off, falling to 31 percent.
The big difference in the game was the Trappers got shots to fall late, while the Cougars struggled.
The Cougars held a 57-45 lead with 12 minutes left in the game after a Saul Torres bucket. After that, Northwest went on a 15-3 run to tie the score at 60-60 two Julian Olubuyi free throws. Olubuyi, finished the contest with a game-high 24 points, including two treys and 10 of 14 shooting from the charity stripe.
WNCC, however, took the lead right back on a Scott Bamforth offensive rebound. The Trappers continued playing hard, taking a 66-62 lead with 3:40 to play on two Olubuyi free throws. The Cougars fought back, tying the game on back-to-back buckets by John Bright at 66-66 with 2:45 to play.
After Northwest took a 70-66 lead on two free throws by Ricardo Bodra, WNCC’s Bright sliced the lead to 70-68. WNCC couldn’t change the momentum of the game after that as the Trappers held off the Cougars for the win.
WNCC had just one player in double figures as Bamforth finished with 16 points. Northwest, on the other hand, had four players hit double digits. Besides Olubuyi, Bodra and Casper Hesseldal each finished with 12 points and Jordan Harris had 10 points.
WNCC (10-4) 39 30 – 69
NW Wyoming 30 47 – 77
WESTERN NEBRASKA
Lloyd Hickinson 2, Tarell Clark 3, Saul Torres 8, Daniel Smith 7, Chris Hamblin 3, Scott Bamforth 16, Francisco Cruz 9, Virgil Baker 2, Larry Brown 9, John Bright 8.
NORTHWEST WYOMING
Mitchell Ackelson 8, Jordan Harris 10, Scott Odekirk 2, Ricardo Bodra 12, Casper Hesseldal 12, Anthony Harris 2, Julian Olubuyi 24, Cody Ball 2, Malcom Colbert 3.
Three-pointers: WNCC 1 (Bamforth), NWC 4 (Olubuyi 2, Colbert, Hesseldal).
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