The Western Nebraska Community College and Dodge City Community men's basketball teams hooked up in an intense battle Saturday and it wasn't until the last minute of the contest that Dodge City took control to win 91-82.

                The Cougars, 0-2 after facing two talented teams to open the season, will be back in action this weekend against two more talented team when they head to Arkansas City, Kansas to face Cowley County Community College and Butler Community College Friday and Saturday.

                Saturday, the game was a battle with neither team giving an inch for 39 minutes of the 40 minutes. Dodge City had an early 9-point lead in the first half at 31-24. WNCC had a 7-point lead minutes later at 41-34. During that run, the Cougars outscored Dodge City 17-4.

                The run was started by a bucket by Willie Wilson followed by two 3-pointers by Noah Jones and a thundering one-handed dunk by Amare Jackson. WNCC led 43-36 late in the first on a bucket by Xavier Kirkpatrick before Dodge score the final four points to trail the Cougars 43-40 at halftime.

                The second half saw WNCC build a 53-47 lead on a bucket by Viktor Lukic-Gavric. That is where things changed as Dodge went on an 11-0 run to lead 58-53. After a bucket by Lukic-Gavric, Dodge went on a 6-0 run to lead 64-55.

                With Dodge leading 70-63, WNCC battle back with an 8-0 run to take a 71-70 lead on a Toms Linis bucket. The two teams traded buckets and had three ties. WNCC trailed 80-79 with just over two minutes to play when the Cougars' scoring went south and Dodge City went on a 9-0 run to lead 90-79 with 30 seconds to play.

                WNCC shot just 34 percent from the field while making 13 3-pointers. Dodge City shot 54 percent and only made five triples. The difference in the game was at the free throw line where Dodge went to the line 47 times, making 30. WNCC was just 19-of-26 from the charity stripe.

                WNCC had four players in double figures. Lukic-Gavric led the way with 26 points, including five triples along with eight rebounds and five assists. Kirkpatrick added 14 points followed by Jackson with 12 and Isaiah St. Preux with 11.

Dodge City 91, WNCC 82
DCCC                 40 51 – 91
WNCC                43 39 – 82
DODGE CITY C.C.
Rickey Lofton 10, Derrick Rivers 28, Brad Johnson 8, Jayvion Nurse 12, Wesly Rosa 5, Jordan Russell 10, Christian Brockett 5, Kock-Deng Koch 2, Richard Rojas 9, Justin Houston 2.
WNCC
Isaiah St. Preux 11, Viktor Lukic-Gavric 26, Amare Jackson 12, Toms Linis 8, Xavier Kirkpatrick 14, Noah Jones 9, Willie Wilson 2.