2022-23 WNCC Cougar Men's Basketball News
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WNCC men fall to LCCC at regionals
March 10, 2023CASPER, Wyo. – The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team had a slow start while Laramie Community College started hot as the Golden Eagles advanced to the semifinals of the men’s Region IX Tournament in Casper, Wyoming, with an 88-63 win. The Cougars end their season at 16-15 while LCCC will move on to play Casper College at 7 p.m. Friday. The other semifinal in the men’s tourney will pit Northwest against Trinidad State at 5 p.m. Northwest won over Lamar Community College while Trinidad State handled Western Wyoming 80-57. -
WNCC men face Laramie County in quarterfinals of regional tourney
March 07, 2023The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team earned a last-second first-round win over North Platte Community Saturday 87-86 that moved them to the bracket play of the men’s Region IX tournament that begins Thursday in Casper, Wyoming. The Cougar men, who have a 16-14 overall record, earned the second seed from the South Sub-region with a 6-6 record. WNCC will face the North third seed Laramie County Community College at 5 p.m. Thursday. LCCC earned a trip to the tournament with a first-round 101-66 win over Eastern Wyoming College on Saturday. Other men’s games on Thursday in the quarterfinals include Northwest College facing Lamar Community College at 1 p.m., Trinidad State College taking on Western Wyoming Community College at 3 p.m., and Casper College facing Otero College at 7 p.m.
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WNCC win first-round game, move on in regional tourney
March 04, 2023Biko Johnson’s two free throws with 1.1 seconds left was enough to give the Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team an 87-86 win over North Platte Community College in a first-round Region IX tournament game Saturday afternoon at Cougar Palace. The win moves the Cougars to 16-14 on the season but, more importantly, advances WNCC to the bracket play of the Region IX tournament next week in Casper, Wyoming. North Platte ends their season at 14-16. WNCC head coach Billy Engel said this was a game that he is proud of how his team never gave up in the final two minutes to get the win.
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After strong start, WNCC men fall to NJC 85-73
February 25, 2023It was a tale of two halves for the Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team in their South Sub-region contest with Northeastern Junior College on Saturday at Cougar Palace. The Cougar men played one of their best first halves defensively and then played one of their worst second halves to fall to NJC 85-73 on sophomore recognition. Despite the loss, the Cougars will host a first-round playoff game next week, more than likely Friday evening. A win Saturday and the Cougars would have been the second seed entering the Region IX tournament. Now, with the loss which drops WNCC to 6-6 in conference play and 15-14 overall, the Cougars could fall to the third seed.
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Big first half leads North Platte over WNCC men
February 21, 2023NORTH PLATTE – The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team scored 55 second-half points, but it wasn’t enough as the North Platte Community College Knights shot 52 percent from the field and raced to a 97-79 Region IX South Sub-region win over the Cougars Tuesday evening in North Platte. Even with the loss, the Cougars still control their own destiny in capturing the second see in the South as they drop to 6-5 in conference play and 15-13 overall. North Platte improves to 2-7 in conference and 12-13 overall. WNCC is locked in hosting a first-round playoff game March 4, but whether it will be as the second, third, or fourth seed is still up for grabs. McCook is 5-5 in conference play while Lamar is fourth with a 5-7 mark followed by Otero and Northeastern at 4-6.
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WNCC men top McCook behind Johnson’s 26
February 18, 2023The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team remained in the driver’s see to get the second seed from the South Sub-region with a gutsy 73-67 win over McCook Community College Saturday afternoon at Cougar Palace. The win moves the Cougars to 15-12 overall but more importantly to 6-4 in sub-region play, a full game ahead of McCook who drops to 5-5 in conference play. WNCC head coach Billy Engel said this team continues to play strong as they control their own destiny in trying to host a first round playoff game March 4.
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Bula’s last second shot sends WNCC men to victory
February 16, 2023Daniel Bula scored 21 points to match his uniform number, but it was his shot with 1.2 seconds remaining that gave the Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team a thrilling 73-71 Region IX South Sub-region win over Lamar Community College Thursday night at Cougar Palace. The win moves the Cougars to 14-12 on the season and to 5-4 in the South Sub-region, which is a half-game ahead of Otero, Northeastern Junior College, and McCook, who all at 4-4. The NJC and McCook game that was slated for Thursday night was postponed until Friday because of weather. Daniel Bula said this was a huge win for the Cougars, who have fallen in several 2-point games this season.
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WNCC men come up 2 points short to NJC
February 14, 2023STERLING, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team trailed by 15 points in the second half before coming back to grab a late 76-75, but the Northeastern Junior College men hung on with some clutch free throws to earn the 83-81 win Tuesday night in Sterling, Colorado. Things got really tight for the second seed in the Region IX South standings after Tuesday night’s play. WNCC drops to 13-12 overall and they are now 4-4 in sub-region play. Otero is also 4-4 and NJC moved to 4-4 with the win. McCook Community College also moved to 4-4 with a win over North Platte for a four-way tie.
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Rough first half dooms WNCC men against Trinidad
February 11, 2023The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team had a rough first half in trailing at halftime 45-23 before coming back to outscore the top team in the South Sub-region Trinidad State College Trojans but coming up short as the Trojans escaped with a 70-55 win Saturday afternoon at Cougar Palace. The win put Trinidad State in the driver’s seat to win the South sub-region and a first-round bye in the regional tournament. The loss still has the Cougars in a good position for second and a home-court playoff game for regionals. WNCC drops to 13-11 on the season and 4-3 in conference play while Trinidad moves to 8-0 in conference and 16-7 overall.
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Strong second half lifts WNCC men over Otero
February 10, 2023The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team received a double-double from Carl Thorpe with 20 points and 10 rebounds as the Cougars came back to earn a 77-72 South Sub-region win over Otero College Friday night at Cougar Palace. The Cougars also received a big performance from sophomore Biko Johnson who poured in 23 points while going 9-of-14 from the free throw line. WNCC head coach Billy Engel said it was a gutsy performance from his team to get the win, which moved them to 13-10 overall and 4-2 in the South Sub-region.
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WNCC men fall to LCCC on Monday
February 06, 2023CHEYENNE, Wyo. – The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team had a rough day shooting in the first half and that shooting woes resulted in Laramie County Community College taking a 35-18 halftime lead and holding on to the 77-59 win in action Monday at Storey Gymnasium in Cheyenne, Wyoming. WNCC and LCCC were neck-and-neck for the first 13 minutes of the contest. LCCC scored the first five points, but WNCC come back to get to within 8-6 on a Stephen Ovia bucket. LCCC went up 16-8 and that was when WNCC had their largest run of seven points behind three points from Carl Thorpe and a 3-pointer by Enzo Urie-Clouvel to cut the deficit to one, 16-15 with 7:13 to play in the half.
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WNCC men hold on to top North Platte
February 02, 2023The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team received 14 points from Zach O’Callaghan and the Cougars buried 12 3-pointers on the night in holding on for a 75-70 South Sub-region win over North Platte Community College Thursday night at Cougar Palace. The win moves the Cougars to 12-9 on the season and 3-2 in sub-region play while North Platte falls to 9-10 overall and 0-5 in the sub-region. WNCC coach Billy Engel said his team played well enough to get the win.
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WNCC men fall to Lamar
January 31, 2023LAMAR, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team were outscored 8-0 in the final 85 seconds of their Region IX South Sub-region contest with Lamar Community College Tuesday on the road as the Lopes registered the 78-69 win. The loss drops the Cougars to 11-9 on the season and 2-2 in conference play. Lamar goes to 6-12 on the season and are also 2-2 in the conference along with Northeastern Junior College. NJC defeated North Platte on Tuesday 88-81.
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WNCC men capture win over Otero on the road
January 27, 2023LAJUNTA, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team put four in double figures and remained unbeaten in South Sub-region play with a huge 79-74 on the road against Otero College Friday evening n LaJunta, Colorado. The Cougar men moved to 11-7 on the year and 2-0 in South Sub-region action with the win. WNCC will look for another sub-region Saturday afternoon as they travel to Trinidad, Colorado, to face the Trinidad State College Trojans. The WNCC men put together a complete contest as they led about 90 percent of the match. The Cougars only trailed three times in the contest and that was in the first three minutes of the game. Trailing 7-4, the Cougar men went on a 9-0 run behind a 3-pointer by Carl Thorpe and six points from Biko Johnson to lead 13-7.
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WNCC men claim 75-71 win over McCook
January 20, 2023MCCOOK -- The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team received 30 points from Biko Johnson with five 3-pointers as the Cougars opened South Sub-region play with a thrilling 75-71 win over McCook Friday evening. This game was one of comebacks for both teams and it was WNCC’s 11-3 run over the final 2:25 that proved the difference. WNCC seemed to be in control in the first half as they built a 29-16 lead and led 34-20 on a Johnson 3-pointer. WNCC led by 11 at halftime 38-27.
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WNCC, EWC men battle in Highway 26 showdown, Cougars win overtime thriller 86-83
January 16, 2023TORRINGTON, Wyo. – The Western Nebraska Community College and Eastern Wyoming College men’s basketball teams hooked up in the annual Highway 26 Border War Monday night and this contest was a war with the Cougars earning the 86-83 winner in overtime. It was a battle throughout the contest and the two teams had a free throw shooting contest in the extra five minutes before the Cougars sealed the deal.
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WNCC men fall to Western Wyoming
January 14, 2023CASPER, Wyo. – The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team let a win slip their fingertips as Western Wyoming outscored the Cougars 52-28 in the second half to come back for the 85-72 win Saturday afternoon in Casper, Wyoming. The Cougars played well in the first half as they had an 18-point lead with 7:12 to play in the half. That 18-point lead diminished to just 11 at halftime as the Cougars led 44-33.
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WNCC men fall to Casper on the road
January 13, 2023CASPER, Wyo. – The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team traveled to Casper, Wyoming, to face the Casper College Thunderbirds and the T-birds and Friday the 13th wasn’t good to the Cougars as they dropped an 84-78 contest. The Cougars had a rough first half as Casper held a 46-31 lead at intermission. The Cougars shot 40 percent in the opening quarter and were just 1-of-4 from the charity stripe. Casper, on the other hand, shot 47 percent from the field and were 5-of-7 from the foul line. The T-Birds also buried nine treys in the first half for the 15-point lead.
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Big second half lifts WNCC men over Lake Region
January 08, 2023The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team used a big second half in registering their first win in 2023 with an 82-43 win over Lake Region State College Saturday afternoon at Cougar Palace. The Cougars connected on 15 3-pointers in the win as Daniel Bula had four treys to lead the team with 17 points while Maurice Walker had three triples to finish with 11 points. Also collecting 11 points along with 10 rebounds was Carl Thorpe. WNCC head coach Billy Engel said their team played well, especially in the second half as they outscored the Royals 52-32 for the win.
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WNCC men get big win over Jump Start
December 11, 2022The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team had a team effort win for their seventh win of the season with an 87-68 win over Jump Start Academy to wrap up the WNCC Classic Saturday evening at Cougar Palace. CJ Johnson and Carl Thorpe led the team with 15 points each in the win. Thorpe had a double-double with 10 rebounds. Also scoring in double digits were Ahmari Samuel and Stephen Ovia each with 13 points. More importantly, all the players that saw action scored in the win.
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WNCC men’s comeback falls short against Northwest
December 10, 2022The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team dug themselves a first-half deficit before a furious comeback just fell short as the Northwest Trappers claimed the 80-78 win in the first day of the WNCC Classic. WNCC will look to bounce back on Saturday as they face Jump Start Academy at 4 p.m. to wrap up the WNCC Classic. Jump Start fell to Otero College on Friday in the second game of the day 81-52. Otero will battle Northwest at noon on Saturday.
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WNCC basketball teams set to host weekend tourney
December 08, 2022It will be the final home games of 2022 for the Western Nebraska Community College men’s and women’s basketball teams as the two teams will host the WNCC Classic on Friday and Saturday. The Cougar men are coming off a 3-0 weekend at the Border Wars Invite in Gillette, Wyoming, and the Cougar men will face Northwest College Friday at 7:30 p.m. before taking on Jump Start Academy Saturday at 4 p.m. The other men’s games this weekend will have Otero College taking on Jump Start on Friday at 3:30 p.m. and then Otero taking on Northwest at noon on Saturday. For the Cougar women, they are looking to get back on the winning track after falling to Williston State on the final day of the 3-day Border Wars Invite. The Cougars will face off against Northwest College Friday at 5:30 p.m. and then take on Central Wyoming College Saturday at 2 p.m.
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Big second half leads WNCC men over Williston
December 05, 2022Gillette, Wyo. – The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team put three in double figures and used a strong second half to register the 81-66 win over Williston State College Sunday morning in the Border Wars Invite in Gillette, Wyoming. The Cougars and Williston were hooked up in a battle in the first half as WNCC led 41-37 at intermission.
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WNCC men top Miles in Border Wars Invite
December 04, 2022GILLETTE, Wyo. – The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team received 20 points and 17 rebounds from Rodney Sawyer as the Cougar men defeated Miles Community College 80-67 in the second day of the Border Wars Invite at Gillette, Wyoming, on Saturday. The Cougars and Miles were in a battle in the first half. Miles had their biggest lead of the game in the first half when they led by seven points with 4:23 to play in the half. The Cougars came back and tied the contest as the two teams were knotted at 34-34 after the first 20 minutes
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WNCC men shoot past Dawson
December 03, 2022GILLETTE, Wyo. – The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team connected on 12 3-pointers while overcoming a slow start to run away with a 95-72 win over Dawson Community College in the Border Wars Classic in Gillette, Wyoming, Friday afternoon. The win evened the Cougars record at 4-4 as they put four players in double figures.
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Clutch free throws lead EWC over WNCC men
November 23, 2022The Eastern Wyoming College men’s basketball team buried 17-of-25 free throws compared to just six for Western Nebraska Community College as the Lancer men snuck out of Cougar Palace with a hard-fought 83-81 win that came down to the final seconds. EWC coach Tom Andersen said it was a heck of a game and they were lucky to get the win. “It was a great game. Both teams played well,” Andersen said. “It was a great rivalry game and we were fortunate to come out at the end when the clock ran out. Give a lot of credit to both teams that really played hard, played well and both teams kept their composure and did a nice job.”
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WNCC hosts EWC Tuesday in Highway 26 battle
November 21, 2022Whenever the Western Nebraska Community College men’s and women’s basketball teams hook up, one never knows what the result of the games will be. Tuesday, November 22, the Cougars and Lancers will come together for a pre-Thanksgiving Highway 26 battle with the two teams looking to get a pre-holiday win when they meet up at Cougar Palace. The women’s contest begins at 5:30 p.m. followed the men’s showdown at 7:30 p.m. The contests should have plenty of food for thought as both Cougar men’s teams competed at the Salt Lake Classic over the weekend with the same results. The women’s contests are two teams that are looking to break losing streaks.
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WNCC men roll to win over Taylormade
November 19, 2022TAYLORSVILLE, Utah – The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team fell behind early and then used a 19-0 run to open the contest and earn a commanding 109-52 win over Taylormade Prep in the second day of the SLCC Classic Saturday afternoon. The Cougars had a balanced scoring attack in getting their third win of the season as three players were in double figures and another three were near double figures.
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WNCC men top Colorado Northwestern
November 18, 2022RANGELY, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team saw 11 players score and the Cougars outscored Colorado Northwestern Community College 36-29 to register a 70-57 win over the Spartans Thursday in Rangely, Colorado. WNCC only trailed twice in the contest and both times were early. The Cougars trailed 6-5, but a Dimitrije Nikolic 3-pointer gave the Cougars an 8-6 lead and the Cougars pushed the lead to 15-5 with 11:57 to play before CNCC scored against after a 5-minute scoreless streak. CNCC would later cut the lead to 19-18 before CJ Johnson hit two free throws and then Maurice Walker nailed a 3-pointer for a 24-18 lead. WNCC stretched the lead to double digits at 34-23 before leading 34-28 at halftime.
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WNCC men play hard against No. 3 Salt Lake before falling
November 18, 2022SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team put a scare into the No. 3 ranked Salt Lake Community College on Friday in the SLCC Classic, but in the end, the Bruins put together a couple late runs to earn the 97-80 win. WNCC drops to 2-3 on the season and will be back in action Saturday in the classic when they take on Taylormade Prep. Taylormade Prep faced Eastern Wyoming College on Friday and lost 107-55.
