Cheyenne, Wyo. – The Laramie County Community College men's basketball team forced 19 turnovers as the Golden Eagles recorded a 98-80 win over Western Nebraska Community College on Saturday afternoon.
Laramie County improves to 16-11 overall and 8-5 in Region IX South play. The Cougars are now 19-6 overall and 9-3 in Region IX South play.
Da'Zhon Wyche (Anchorage, Alaska) had a game-high 32 points and seven rebounds to lead the Golden Eagles in the winning effort. Elijah Oliver (Cheyenne, Wyoming) added 25 points and six rebounds. Zaire Mateen (Queens, New York) had 18 points and seven rebounds to go along with a team-best seven assists and three steals. Landon Taliaferro (Boulder, Colorado) was the fourth Golden Eagle in double-figures with 14 points. Kyle Wright was a force on the defensive end with six rebounds and a game-high three blocks.
The Golden Eagles shot 55.9 (38-68) percent from the field, 48.4 (15-31) percent from the perimeter and 63.6 percent from the foul line. LCCC held Western Nebraska to 31.3 percent from the 3-point line. The Cougars entered the game shooting over 40 percent from behind the arc.
A strong shooting performance helped the Golden Eagles in the first half as they shot 57.6 percent from the field. Laramie County led 47-33 at the half and knocked seven first half three-pointers.
In the second half, Laramie County was able to push the lead to 19 after a pair of 3-pointers from Oliver and Wyche for a 58-39 lead 4:30 minutes into the half. They would keep the lead double digits for the remainder of the game in route to a 98-80 victory.
Vinnie Shahid 21 points for the Cougars and Jervay Green added 16 points in the loss.
Laramie County returns to the RAC on Saturday to play host to Trinidad State Junior College with tipoff set for 4 p.m.
Tickets to all Laramie County basketball games are $5adults, $3 students, $2 seniors and military and free to all LCCC students, staff and faculty with an LCCC ID.
For the latest on LCCC Men's Basketball, stay tuned to golccc.com and follow the team on Twitter @lcccsports and @lcccbasketball.