MCCOOK – The Western Nebraska Community College men's basketball team received 23 points from Daylon Harris while shooting 61 percent as a team in registering a 96-94 win over McCook Community College in a Region IX South Division contest Thursday in McCook, Nebraska.

                WNCC coach Russ Beck said his team did the things they needed to, especially cleaning the glass in out-rebounding the Indians 51-31.

                "It wasn't a pretty win, but a win nonetheless," he said. "We really were dominant on the boards tonight and that helped us overcome some costly turnovers that made it a close game."

                The win moved the Cougars to 5-7 in South Division play and 15-9 overall. McCook falls to 4-7 in Division play and 15-8 overall.

                Beck said, with six games left in the season, this month is key for the Cougars to catch fire.

                "I told the guys February is a whole new season and we need to really value every day and every game and dedicate ourselves to each other," he said. "We have six regular season games left. One at a time now is the time to start playing our best basketball. It's not how you start; it's how you finish."

                The game was a back and forth contest with 16 lead changes and 12 ties. WNCC's biggest lead came in the second half while McCook's biggest lead was a 7-point lead in the first half. McCook held a 47-43 lead at intermission.

                The second half is when WNCC heated up, shooting 65 percent while burying four 3-pointers. WNCC also converted 15 of 21 free throws. McCook was just 42 percent from the field despite burying seven treys.

                Rebounding was the key. The Cougars' 51 boards included 43 on the defensive end. Leon Tomic paced the team on the glass with 12 boards, followed by Tyrell Williams with eight.

                The Cougars put five players in double figures. Harris led the way with 23 points followed by 15 from Chase Mason and Michael Sparks. Williams finished with 14 points while Tomic had 12.

                WNCC will be back in action Saturday at 7 p.m. as they travel to North Platte Community College for another key South Division contest. The Cougars will then return home to host Northeastern Junior College on Tuesday.

WNCC (15-9)                      43 53 – 96

McCook (15-8)                  47 47 – 94

WNCC

Michael Sparks 15, Michael O'Connor 8, Chase Mason 15, Phil Fayne 7, Tyrell Williams 14, Daylon Harris 23, RJ Palmer 2, Leon Tomic 12.

MCCOOK

Chuol Biel 6, Peter Puondak 7, Evan Drake 20, Marquis White 5, Brandon Goldsmith 8, Hakim Davis 13, Brody Sharkey 6, Drylan Perkins 22, Kafani Williams 7.