CHEYENNE, WY – Landon Taliaferro (Boulder, Colorado) finished with 25 points to lead Laramie County Community College as they rallied in the second half to earn an 89-85 victory over the Lamar Community College Lopes in a Region IX South men's basketball game Wednesday in Lamar.
The Golden Eagles improve to 17-12 overall and 9-6 in Region IX South play. The Lopes fall to 17-11 overall and 8-7 in Region IX South play.
Taliaferro also pulled down six rebounds to go with his 25 points. Three other Golden Eagles scored in double-figures as Zaire Mateen (Queens, New York) had 23 points, Da'Zhon Wyche (Anchorage, Alaska) added 22 points and Elijah Oliver (Cheyenne, Wyoming) had 13 points. Oliver, Taliaferro and Wyche pulled down six boards. Mateen and Kyle Wright (West Orange, New Jersey) had three assists for LCCC. The Golden Eagles starters combined for 85 of the 89 points.
LCCC opened the game on a 6-0 run with back-to-back 3-pointers from Taliaferro and Oliver. Golden Eagles maintained the lead for majority of the first half with a few lead changes in the first 10 minutes. With under five minutes to go in the first half LCC regained the lead and took 47-43 lead at the halftime break.
Both teams would exchange several lead changes in the second half in what was a very entertaining shooting performance for both squads. The Golden Eagles gained the advantage late in the second and held on for the victory.
LCCC shot 44.8 percent from the floor, 52 percent from the 3-point line and 76.2 percent from the foul line. Golden Eagles hit 13 three-pointers and only committed nine turnovers in the game.
Rich Caldwell led Lamar with 24 points. Aaris Bonds had seven assists and nine rebounds, while Jack Peck added 18 points. Logan Longo chipped in with 14 points.
Laramie County travels to Otero Junior College on Saturday to close out the Region IX South regular season. The Golden Eagles will be playing for an opportunity to host a Region IX Tournament first round home game on Mar. 3rd.
For the latest on LCCC Men's Basketball, stay tuned to golccc.com and follow the team on Twitter @lcccsports and @lcccbasketball.