GILLETTE, Wyo. – The Western Nebraska Community College men's basketball team shot 45 percent from the field and earned an 84-65 win over Williston State College on Thursday in the first day of the Border Wars Classic in Gillette, Wyoming.

                The Cougars had four players in double figures in the win as WNCC went to 7-6 on the season as they get ready to face Dawson Community College on Friday.

                WNCC's winning ways started midway in the first half as the two teams were trading buckets left and right. Williston led 13-12 before the Cougars would take a 14-13 lead on a Daniel Bula bucket and then Stephen Ovia would score three straight buckets for a 22-15 lead and the Cougars would never trail again.

                WNCC led 43-35 at halftime.

                The second half saw Williston get to with seven at 50-43, but buckets by Kayden Nation and Anthony Simo pushed the lead back to double digits at 54-43.

                Williston tried a late rally as they got to within seven on a 3-pointer at 67-60 with about five minutes to play. The Cougars responded as they scored the next six points for a 73-60 lead. The Tetons came back with five points to make it 73-65, but WNCC did not allow a Williston point in the final three minutes as they closed out the game on an 11-0 run for the 84-65 win.

                WNCC was led by Nation with 18 points while Willie Wilson had 17 points. Bula tallied 11, while Nazir Griffin pitched in 10.

                Bula led the Cougars with nine rebounds while Travis Easterly, Jr., had three assists.

Williston             34 31 – 65
WNCC (7-6)       43 41 – 84
WILLISTON
Wil Olson 16, Tyson Enget 6, Tyler Best 8, Richard Massey 6, Rex Stirling 18, Mekhi Marks 6, Brady Feller 5.
WNCC
Maurice Walker 2, Anthony Simo 5, Nazir Griffin 10, Willie Wilson 17, Daniel Bula 11, Junior Galicia 4, Danilo Glisovic 2, Stephen Ovia 9, Elijah Burney 6, Kayden Nation 18.