COLORADO SPRINGS, CO - The Laramie County Community College men's basketball team used a 55 point second half to run away from the United State Military Academy Prep School (West Point) on Saturday afternoon to win 96-77 for their first win of the 2024 season and their 11th overall on the year. 

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It was a back and forth first half despite the Golden Eagles holding the lead for most of the opening 20 minutes with the Army team rallying back to tie the game at 20 and 30 points each and multiple lead changes in that stretch. LCCC used the final four minutes to go on an 11-3 run and headed into the locker rooms with a six point edge, up 41-35. 

"In the first half I really think we were just trying to figure out how to play in the second semester," Head Coach DeWayne Saulsberry said. "Once we got it figured out in the second half it looked like good basketball. We were shooting the basketball well, getting up and down the court, I was really pleased with the way they came out and performed."

The second half opened with LCCC putting down the throttle and beginning to pull away with their first double-digit lead coming at the 11:27 mark of the second half on a Jonathan Strong layup. 

Davion Butler took over from there, drilling 4 out of his next five three point shots and the lead ballooned to 80-60 with 5:30 to play. 

The final nail came with four minutes left when Abdullah Mahamed had back-to-back and-one plays inside to push the lead to what would be a game high 21 points at 89-68 before LCCC closed it out with the 96-77 win. 

"You have to have balance," Saulsberry said, explaining how important it was to win in multiple facets of the game. "There are going to be nights where the three isn't falling, when you aren't getting shots inside and it gives you a whole lot of confidence knowing that this team can beat you in more than one way. Last year we did a really good job of going downhill, but we didn't shoot the three very well, this year it looks like we can do them both."

Bulter finished with a game high 21 points including five three's in the game. Jordan Reed was steady throughout for a 20 point night and in total five of the eight Golden Eagles to see the court finished in double figures. 

Reed was joined by Justin Daniels and Phoenix Bullock with four assist games and Butler added another three as LCCC finished with a season high 16 assists in the game despite being short handed on their bench. 

The Golden Eagles are back in action on Tuesday when they host Gillette College for the opening game of Region IX North action at Storey Gym. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 pm or after the women's basketball game against the Pronghorns scheduled to begin at 5:30. 

For more information, please visit www.golccc.com.