The Western Nebraska Community College men's basketball team struggled from the field and the result was Laramie County Community College picking up the 84-68 win Monday evening at Cougar Palace.

                WNCC shot only 31 percent from the field and buried just 5-of-22 3-pointers on the night. The Cougars made just 1-of-10 treys in the first half.

                Laramie County, on the other hand, didn't shoot the lights out either, but made more shots. The Golden Eagles shot 41 percent from the field and just 33 percent from behind the arc (7-of-21) for the game.

                The contest started out slow to begin with. LCCC went up 8-1 before WNCC'a Anthony Simo made the first field goal for the Cougars with 14:40 to play. LCCC led 11-3 before the Cougars went on a 7-0 run behind a bucket by Daniel Bula and five points from Willie Willson to cut the deficit to 11-10.   

                The Cougars stayed in the game and trailed 19-16 on a Kayden Nation 3-pointer. After that, though, the Golden Eagles went on a 19-4 run over the last eight minutes of the half to lead 38-20 at halftime.

                The second half saw the two teams trade buckets early going. LCCC led 55-34 with 13 minutes to play. WNCC tried to make a comeback as Wilson made a bucket and then Nation had five points to bring the Cougars to within 55-41. WNCC, however, never could get the lead to within 15 points as the Golden Eagles won 84-68.

                WNCC had three players in double figures, led by Simo with a double-double of 13 points and 10 rebounds. Wilson and Nation each had 11 points, while JJ Harris, Nazir Griffin and Bula each had nine points.

                LCCC was led by Kamrohn Roundtree with a double-double of 26 points and 15 rebounds. Davion Butler also had 20 points including four treys.

                WNCC, 6-6, will be back in action this weekend when they head to Gillette, Wyoming, for the Border Wars Classic where they will face Dawson Community College, Miles Community College, and Williston State College beginning Thursday.

LCCC                    38 46 – 84
WNCC                 20 48 – 68
LCCC
Phoenix Bullock 5, Pedro Ellery 6, Ejay Scroggins 2, Jordan Reed 9, Justin Daniels 1, Davion Butler 20, Brandon Tchouya 10, Michael Amako 2, Kamrohn Roundtree 26, Abdullah Mahamed 3.
WNCC
JJ Harris 9, Junior Galicia 2, Anthony Simo 13, Danilo Glisovic 4, Nazir Griffin 9, Daniel Bula 9, Kayden Nation 11.