Dru Kuxhausen hit four free throws with under 10 seconds to play to lift the Western Nebraska Community College men's basketball team to a come-from-behind Region IX South sub-region 81-77 win over Lamar Community College Friday evening at Cougar Palace.
The win was the Cougars 20th of the season but more importantly, keeps WNCC atop the South sub-region standings with a 7-1 record.
WNCC will look to stay in first place in the region when they host Northeastern Junior College Saturday afternoon. Tip-off for the game is 4 p.m.
Friday's game was one where Lamar battled back from a 16-point deficit in the first half to make a game of hit. WNCC controlled the majority of the first half, holding a 40-24 lead on a Jervay Green old-fashioned 3-point play.
After that bucket, Lamar went on a 14-2 run to close out the first half as Veron Kalonji hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give WNCC a slim 42-38 halftime lead.
The second half saw both teams score 39 points. WNCC held a 10-point lead, 66-56 midway through the half. Lamar came back and took their first lead since the opening bucket on a 3-pointer by Brevin Brimble to lead 70-67.
From there, the intensity and electricity picked up in the gym. WNCC came back to take a 76-74 lead on a Green 3-pointer and a bucket with 1:32 to play. Lamar's Omar Davis hit a 3-pointer to put the Lopes back on top 77-76 with 51 seconds to play.
Green made one of two free throws to tie the game at 77 with 14 seconds to play. After the miss, there was a jump ball and WNCC got the possession. Kuxhausen was fouled and sank two charity tosses with 9.7 seconds to play. Lamar called time out and its shot went wide and Kuxhausen added two more free throws for the final margin.
WNCC shot just 39 percent from the field and were 9 of 24 from beyond the arc. Lamar shot 40 percent from the field and were 8 of 29 from the arc.
Kuxhausen buried five 3-pointers and led the Cougars with 23 points. The Scottsbluff High product finished with a double-double in the process, dishing off 10 assists. He was also 6 of 6 from the free throw line.
Green chipped in 21 points and pulled down eight rebounds. Green also had five assists and five steals.
Bryce Sanchious also tallied double figures with 15 points and nine rebounds. He recorded three steals.
Lamar earned the rebound edge on the Cougars 53-44. The Lopes were led by Jubrile Bela with a double-double of 14 points and 12 rebounds.
Lamar also had four other players in double figures. Blayton Williams tallied 17 points, Veron Kalonji had 12 points, Omar Davis 11, and Brimble 10.
Lamar 38 39 – 77
WNCC (20-6) 42 39 – 81
LAMAR
Omar Davis 11, Deon Barfield 8, Brevin Brimble 10, Blayton Williams 17, Veron Kalonji 12, Jubrile Bela 14, Oscar Maldonado 5.
WNCC
Dru Kuxhausen 23, Marquis White 8, Bryce Sanchious 15, Henry Tanksley 5, Jervay Green 21, Martin Roub 9.