CASPER, Wyo. – The Western Nebraska Community College men's basketball team played tough against No. 10 Salt Lake Community College, but in the end the Bruins prevailed 73-57 at the Cercy Investments Classic Friday in Casper, Wyoming.
WNCC hung with the 10th ranked team in the NJCAA pre-season polls and even held the Bruins well below their average of 102 points. Salt Lake, however had late runs in both the first and second halves to get the win.
The Cougars led on several occasions in the first half and early on it was a defensive game. Salt Lake shot 52 percent in the first half and moved out to a 36-29 lead at intermission.
The second half saw Salt Lake shoot 56 percent from the field. WNCC shot just 30 percent in the second half after shooting 35 percent in the opening 20 minutes.
Salt Lake held the rebounding edge, 45-34 over the Cougars. Jeremy Ruffin cleaned the glass for 10 boards followed Diamond Onwuka with seven.
Offensively, The Cougars were led by Drode Dimitrijevic with 10 points followed by Vinnie Shahib with nine, Ruffin with eight, and Michael Connor with seven.
The Cougars were 10 of 16 from the charity stripe and buried five 3-pointers, two each from Dimitrijevic and Onwuka.
WNCC (2-1) will wrap up tournament play in Casper on Saturday when they face Miles Community College at 3 p.m. in the final day of the Cercy Investments Classic. No. 21 Casper defeated Miles in the other game in the classic 108-69 on Friday.
WNCC (2-1) 29 28 – 57
Salt Lake (2-0) 36 37 – 73
SALT LAKE
Isaiah White 11, Christian Gray 14, TJ Oliver15, Keanu Peters 4, Jake Miles 4, Cole Kesler 3, Dalven Brushier 2, Ke'Sean Davis 7, Matt Conway 13
WNCC
Vinnie Shahib 9, Michael Connor 7, Dorde Dimitrijevic 10, Daylon Harris 6, Trent Harris 2, RJ Palmer 6, Ricardo Pinne 2, Diamond Onwuka 6, Jalan Brown 3, Marlon Sierra 4, Jeremy Ruffin 8