The Western Nebraska Community College men's basketball team put four in double figures, but the Cougars were outscored 37-28 in the second half in falling to Casper College 80-74 in the Cougars' season opener Wednesday at Cougar Palace.

                WNCC coach Billy Engel said his team fought hard, but went in a scoring slump in the second half, which was the difference in the game.

                "In a close game, any small mistakes seem like much bigger mistakes in a one possession game the last eight to 10 minutes," Engel said. "You look back and see some missed lay ups and you remember some offensive rebounds given up and some silly turnovers and those mistakes seem like they are so much bigger. It hurts right now, but when you look back on it, I think we did really compete and play hard. I think we competed together."

                The disappointing loss to a Casper team that saw Darius Robinson finish with 25 points including four 3-pointers can help the team in their next game, which will be a difficult one as WNCC heads to Cheyenne, Wyoming, to face Laramie County Community College on Wednesday.

                "This Casper team has some hype behind them and Laramie County has a bunch of talent," Engel said. "We are moving on from this Casper team to facing Laramie County which is a team that has intensity and has the same level of play that we saw tonight, we will see then next Wednesday. We are hoping this game prepares them for it."

                The first half was a battle as WNCC led an 8-7 lead on a Bula bucket, but the Thunderbirds came back and led 10-8 and then went up 26-22. The Cougars came back to tie the game at 26 on two free throws by Harris and a bucket by Bula.

                Casper came back to lead 38-37 before WNCC went in front 43-38 and led 46-43 at halftime.

                The second half was where the Cougars hustled out and led 53-46 behind back-to-back treys by Maurice Walker and Harris. The Cougars kept playing well as they led 56-50 after one of two free throws by Anthony Simo.

                That was when the Cougars went into a scoring slump as WNCC missed five or six straight buckets. Casper, on the other hand, reeled off eight straight points to grab a 58-56 lead and led 62-61. WNCC came back and had a 67-64 lead on a bucket by Wilson. Casper took a 70-67 lead with under five minutes to play and went up 75-70.

                The Cougars came back to cut the Casper's lead to 75-74 on four free throws with 1:03 to play. WNCC went scoreless in the final minute of play, but the Cougars closed out the game on a 5-0 run for the 80-74 win.

                WNCC had four players in double figures led by JJ Harris with 15 points including three trays, followed by Kayden Nation and Daniel Bula each with 15 points along with Willie Willson getting 11.

                WNCC earned the rebounding win out-rebounding the Thunderbirds 47-43, led by Wilson with seven and Daniel Bula with eight boards.

Casper                 43 37 – 80

WNCC                 46 28 – 74

CASPER

Malyk Rebetez 12, Darius Robinson 25, Abdul Bashir 13, Josh Ijeh 8, Nate Sasser 11, Jimma James 3, Kuon Kuon 2, Jaden Peters 4, Andrija Maric 2.

WNCC

JJ Harris 16, Maurice Walker 5, Travis Easterly 2, Stephen Ovta 5, Daniel Bula 12, Junior Galicia 2, Anthony Simo 5, Danilo Glisovic 1, Nazor Griffin 4, Kayden Naton 12.