Cheyenne, Wyo. – The Laramie County Community College men's basketball team scored the first four points but were unable to regain to keep the lead after that, falling 89-69 at home to #19 Casper College on Saturday afternoon. The Golden Eagles slip to 3-13 and 1-1 in Region IX North action, while the Thunderbirds improve 15-2 and 2-0 in Region IX North.
Sophomore Mateo Zovko (Mostar, Bosnia) led the Golden Eagles with 22 points. It is the 10th time that he has scored in double figures this season.
Freshman Erik Oliver (Cheyenne, Wyoming) added 20 points and six rebounds, while sophomore Cortney Dean (Denver, Colorado) had nine points. Kyle Cabs (Denver, Colorado) pulled down a game-high 10 rebounds.
The match was tight pretty much the entire first half with both teams going on runs of their own. Casper would extend the lead to 10 a little over midway through the first half but LCCC would answer and cut it back down to six. Casper would take a 42-34 lead at the break.
Casper started the second half on an 18-2 run. The Golden Eagles would go on stretches of cutting into the lead but the Thunderbirds would have an answer each time.
The Thunderbirds outrebounded Laramie County 44-37 and holding the edge on assists 17-9. Overall, the Golden Eagles finished the game shooting 38.1 percent from the field with a 5-of-19 clip from 3-point range. Casper shot 50 percent from the field.
Laramie County returns to action on the road at Central Wyoming College on Wednesday night. First tip is set for 7:30 p.m.