https://wnccathletics.com en-us https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/20260308hwat80 POWELL, Wyo. – The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team ended their season with another hard-luck defeat to Northwest College in the first-round of the Region IX tournament in Powell, Wyoming, Saturday afternoon falling to Northwest 85-73. The Cougars finish the season at 9-22 and Saturday’s defeat was characteristic of games all season where the Cougars have big leads and then go on one mini scoring slump. Saturday was no different. WNCC started strong from the start, holding an 8-2 lead after back-to-back 3-pointers from Viktor Lukic-Gavric and Toms Linis. WNCC then went on a five-minute scoring slump as the Trappers scored 18 unanswered points to take a 20-8 lead. Lukic-Gavric stopped the run with a bucket with 13:31 to play in the opening half. Sat, 07 Mar 2026 05:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/20260308hwat80 https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/202603042z2a1y The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team enter the Region IX Tournament with plenty to gain and nothing to lose when they open play this Saturday on Powell, Wyoming. The Cougars will travel this weekend for a first-round game against Northwest College, a team that finished second in the North sub-region with an 8-4 record and 19-11 overall. WNCC went 5-9 in the South sub-region and 9-21 overall. Wed, 04 Mar 2026 05:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/202603042z2a1y https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/202603012iwwik STERLING, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team started strong and then fell to Northeastern Junior College 72-53 in a South Sub-region contest Saturday in Sterling, Colorado. NJC’s win gave the Plainsmen the South Sub-region championship and the right to host the men’s Region IX tournament March 12-14. The Cougars will be on the road next weekend as they will travel probably to North Platte or Lamar for a first-round contest. The complete first-round pairings will be released early next week. Sat, 28 Feb 2026 05:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/202603012iwwik https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/20260222097l3g NORTH PLATTE – The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team allowed North Platte Community College to go on a 13-0 run to start the second half and the Knights scored 63 points in that half to claim a 98-84 South Sub-region win Saturday afternoon in North Platte. The loss drops the Cougars to 5-8 in the sub-region while North Platte goes to 7-5. The Cougars have one more regular season game left and that is Saturday when they travel to sub-region-leading Northeastern Junior College. NJC is 10-3 and a win against WNCC would give NJC the sub-region title and the host for the men’s regional tournament. Sat, 21 Feb 2026 05:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/20260222097l3g https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/202602194cg00f Kellon Harris scored 24 points and the Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team stayed in the hunt for a first-round home playoff game with the 74-65 win over McCook Community College Wednesday evening at Cougar Palace. The win moves the Cougars to 5-7 in conference play and 9-19 overall. McCook drops to 6-5 in conference and 16-11 overall. Witold Czerenkiewicz, who had three big 3-pointers in the game, said it was a good win for his team as they continue to build for the playoffs. Wed, 18 Feb 2026 05:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/202602194cg00f https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/2026021551gbsb LINCOLN – The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team outscored Southeast Community College 47-41 in the second half to register an 89-84 South Sub-region win over the Bobcats Saturday afternoon in Lincoln. The win keeps the Cougars’ dream alive to host a first-round playoff game. WNCC moves to 4-7 in conference play with three conference games left. WNCC is 8-19 overall. WNCC will next be in action on Wednesday when they host McCook Community College in the final regular-season home contest. WNCC head coach Roybell Baez said the McCook game is important and his team needs to duplicate what they did Saturday come Wednesday. Sat, 14 Feb 2026 05:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/2026021551gbsb https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/202602065n5c42 The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team put three in double figures and buried 11 3-pointes enroute to an 87-78 South sub-region win over Otero College Thursday at Cougar Palace. The win moved the Cougars to 3-6 in the conference standings but more importantly, it was a confidence win for the Cougar players after WNCC fell to Trinidad State 74-72 Wednesday on a buzzer-beating shot. “We need this win, not only to for in the conference, but to boost our confidence,” Noah Jones, the sophomore who had 11 points in the win, said. “We knew that e were still a really good team even with all our losses. So, this is just proof to us of what we are and what we can do.” Jones said the team got the win because they played together as a unit. “The team played together and coach always preaches to us that togetherness is gonna win the game and today, we felt like we put together a complete performance,” he said. “It’s was like a little bit off on defense in the second half, but that’s something that we can clean up. Thu, 05 Feb 2026 05:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/202602065n5c42 https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/2026020550jbxy The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team lost another heartbreaker as Trinidad State College’s TaRea Fulcher hit a bucket just as the clock registered zero to give the Trojans a 74-72 South Sub-region win Wednesday evening at Cougar Palace. WNCC falls to 2-6 in the conference while Trinidad State goes to 3-4. WNCC will have little time to rest as they host Otero College Thursday night at 7 p.m. Otero is 2-5 in the conference after they lost to Northeastern Junior College Wednesday night 76-65. Other conference games on Wednesday saw Southeast top North Platte 77-74, McCook defeat Lamar 101-90, Casper defeated Laramie County 85-83, and Gillette defeated Central Wyoming in double overtime 74-73. Wednesday’s contest with Trinidad State resembled a chess match as the two teams each made moves to take the lead all through the game. There were 16 ties in the contest and 15 lead changes. Wed, 04 Feb 2026 05:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/2026020550jbxy https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/202602023xklpm The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team suffered another last seconds South Sub-region loss Sunday afternoon as the North Platte Community College Knights received 27 points and seven 3-pointers from Brady Kennison to hold on for the 84-79 win. The Cougars fall to 2-5 in the South Sub-region play and the Cougars have lost those five games by a combined 14 points. North Platte stays atop the standings at 6-1 and 14-8 overall. WNCC will have little time to think about the contest as the Cougars host back-to-back sub-region games Wednesday and Thursday when Trinidad State College and Otero College come to Cougar Palace. WNCC head coach Roybell Baez said the little things is what costing them the games, just like Sunday. Sun, 01 Feb 2026 05:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/202602023xklpm https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/202601292osuie MCCOOK – The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team outscored McCook Community College 51-31 in the second half enroute to an 87-76 South Sub-region win Wednesday night in McCook. The win moves the Cougars to the middle of the pack in the South Sub-region at 2-4 and 6-16 overall. McCook falls to 3-3 in conference action and 13-9 overall. WNCC will be back in action Sunday, February 1 when South conference-leading North Platte Community College comes to Cougar Palace for a 3 p.m. contest. North Platte was a 64-60 winner over Northeastern Junior College Wednesday night. The other south sub-region contest saw Lamar defeat Trinidad State 81-73. Wed, 28 Jan 2026 05:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/202601292osuie https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/20260125iaziiv LAJUNTA, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team almost pulled off a last-second win Saturday afternoon against Otero College. The Cougars, who trailed by 11 points with a little over five minutes to play, came roaring back in going on a 14-5 run to make it a 2-point contest with 47.9 seconds to play. In the end, Otero hit a couple clutch free throws to earn the 84-82 South Sub-region win. WNCC, falls to 1-4 in the South Conference while Otero goes to 1-3. The Cougars will have a key South Sub-region contest Wednesday at McCook Community College before returning home to face North Platte Community College on Sunday, February 1. Saturday’s contest was one where the Cougars allowed Otero a couple mini runs to get back into the game. Sat, 24 Jan 2026 05:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/20260125iaziiv https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/202601243p3dh4 TRINIDAD, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball never trailed in the South Sub-region contest with Trinidad State College as the Cougars captured the 96-88 win Friday evening in Trinidad, Colorado. WNCC snapped a 4-game losing streak in capturing the win. The Cougars will continue the road trip with a Saturday afternoon contest against Otero College in LaJunta, Colorado. WNCC, in the win, saw all 10 players that saw action score in the game with four in double figures, led by 20 points apiece from Kellon Harris and Xavier Kirkpatrick. Also notching double digits were Isaiah St. Preux with 14 points and Viktor Lukic-Gavric with 12 points. WNCC started strong, running to a 12-0 lead and holding Trinidad scoreless for the first five minutes of the contest. WNCC continued excelling, leading 21-3 after Xavier Kirkpatrick buried two 3-pointers and Isaiah St. Preux sandwiched a triple in between Kirkpatrick’s two treys. Fri, 23 Jan 2026 05:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/202601243p3dh4 https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/20260118wvup8a The Western Nebraska Community College and Southeast Community College men’s basketball team battled tooth and nail with neither team getting a lead more than five points all night. In the end, the Southeast Bobcats made clutch buckets in the final minute and then held on to earn the 87-84 win over the Cougars Saturday afternoon. In the four home games to open the second semester, the Cougars lost all four by a combined 10 points. WNCC will look to get back on the winning track when they hit the road for a pair of games at Trinidad State College on Friday and Otero College on Thursday. Trinidad State is 0-2 in the sub-region and 7-10 overall and Otero is also 0-2 and 1-15 overall. Sat, 17 Jan 2026 05:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/20260118wvup8a https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/202601156duncz The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team held Lamar Community College to just 23 first-half points. The second half was a different story as Lamar scored 52 points, including a go-ahead 3-pointer by Ahmed Cisse with 2.7 seconds left to get the South Sub-region win over the Cougars 75-72. It was the third straight game where the Cougars lost with an opponent's shot in the final 10 seconds. Even with the loss, though, WNCC head coach Roybell Baez said he was proud of the way his team competed, playing hard for the entire 40 minutes. Baez said they just need to find a way to close out a game. “It’s college basketball and I’m in there trying to make sure these dudes don’t fall apart because they wanted this game really bad. You can tell by how hard we’re playing that it matters and it means something,” Baez said. “You know, sometimes the basketball just doesn’t fall your way. I am actually really proud of our guys. I thought that tonight was a night where they fought together. They put together a bunch of really good runs and we had a shot to win the game and we didn’t. So, the next step for us is figuring out how to close games because we had an opportunity to win tonight and we didn’t.” Wed, 14 Jan 2026 05:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/202601156duncz https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/2026011341bogk It is starting to sound Déjà vu as the Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball dropped another contest in the final seconds Monday night. Dawson Community College hit a bucket with 12.7 seconds remaining for the 83-80 win. WNCC did everything imaginable to win the game. After trailing 49-41, the Cougars played a decent second half, outscoring Dawson 39-34 and fought back from a 14-point deficit to 73-72 late. Down the stretch, Dawson just made shots when they needed to. Xavier Kirkpatrick, who led the team with 22 points and four 3-pointers, said there were things they could have done better, but they didn’t play awful. “We played decent and there definitely were some things that we could have worked out as far as like getting a rebound and just boxing out, finishing our plays,” Kirkpatrick said. “But, overall, we played great as a team.” Mon, 12 Jan 2026 05:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/2026011341bogk https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/20260111q7svht The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team played one of their best first-halves this season in allowing just 28 points to Northeastern Junior College Saturday in their conference-opening contest. The second half was a different story as NJC hit one free throw with 3.9 seconds remaining to claim the South Sub-Region 68-67 win over the Cougars. WNCC will have little time to worry about that defeat as they host Dawson Community College Monday evening at 6 p.m. before entertaining Lamar Community College Wednesday night in conference action. WNCC head coach Roybell Baez said Saturday’s encounter was a typical WNCC and NJC rivalry game with both teams playing hard. Sat, 10 Jan 2026 05:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/20260111q7svht https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/202601092kucvi GILLETTE, Wyo. – A day after beating Casper by 20 points, the Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team allowed two big second-half runs to allow Gillette College to register the 94-84 win on Thursday in Gillette, Wyoming. The Cougars drop to 4-11 on the season and will return home for four home games in an eight-day period. The Cougars start the home game day competition Saturday when Northeastern Junior College comes to Cougar Palace for a 3 p.m. contest. After that, the Cougars will face Dawson Community College on Monday, followed by Lamar Community College on Wednesday, and then Southeast Community College on January 17. Thu, 08 Jan 2026 05:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/202601092kucvi https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/202601082skrvj CASPER, Wyo. – Kellon Harris poured in 30 points and the Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team connected on 17 3-pointers in registering a road win to open the second semester at Casper College, winning 105-85. The win was the Cougars’ first win at Casper College since the team defeated the T-Birds on their home court in the 2012-13 season on January 26 88-81. WNCC has only scored 100 points on the Cougars seven times since 1997-98 in 60 meetings between the two schools. The win was the Cougars’ fourth win of the season as they will travel to Gillette College on Thursday. The Cougars will then open South Conference play on Saturday when they host Northeastern Junior College with the women’s game tipping off at 1 p.m. and the men’s contest at 3 p.m. Wed, 07 Jan 2026 05:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/202601082skrvj https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/2025121429p9qn EPHRAIM, Utah – The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team wrapped up the first semester falling to Utah State Eastern at the Snow College Holiday Invitational on Saturday 87-72. The Cougars finish the first semester at 3-10 and will return to action in January 2026 when they travel to face Casper College and Gillette College on January 7 and 8 before hosting Northeastern Junior College on January 10 to open South Conference play. The other game of the Snow College Holiday Classic Saturday saw No. 2 Snow College top Casper College 103-68. Sat, 13 Dec 2025 05:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/2025121429p9qn https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/202512132dkfgk EPHRAIM, Utah – In their first game back in nearly two weeks off, the Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team competed with No. 2 Snow College. In the end, Snow registered the 127-91 win in the Snow College Holiday Invitational. WNCC will wrap up the Holiday Invitational Saturday when they face Utah State Eastern at 2 p.m. Utah State Eastern defeated Casper College 85-84 in the first game on Friday. Fri, 12 Dec 2025 05:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/202512132dkfgk https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/202511265p8itr Viktor Lukic-Gavric scored 24 points and the Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball put together a solid effort in registering the 87-78 win over Eastern Wyoming College Tuesday night at Cougar Palace. WNCC placed four in double figures in the win while burying 11 3-pointers. Lukic-Gavric had four 3-pointers for his 24 points. He also had five rebounds, four assists, and three steals. WNCC also got 18 points from Amare Jackson followed by Isaiah St. Preux with 15 and Melchi Egbeyemi with 13. Tue, 25 Nov 2025 05:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/202511265p8itr https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/202511254cru76 The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team put four players in double figures and played one of their best second halves of the season in registering a 79-73 win over Miles Community College Monday night at Cougar Palace. The win snapped a 5-game losing skid and now the Cougars look to for their second straight win when they host Eastern Wyoming College Tuesday in a women’s and men’s doubleheader. The women’s game starts at 5:30 p.m. with the men to follow. WNCC head coach Roybell Baez thought his team’s second half performance was one of the best of the season with how they played as a team and hit shots. Mon, 24 Nov 2025 05:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/202511254cru76 https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/2025112304jkbk CHEYENNE, Wyo. – The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team shot 50 percent from the field, but it wasn’t enough as Salt Lake Community College buried 18 3-pointers as the Bruins won 107-78 Saturday in the final day of the LCCC Classic. The Cougars will have little time to relax as they will have Sunday off before back-to-back home contests on Monday and Tuesday against Miles Community College and Eastern Wyoming College in women and men doubleheaders both nights. When Miles comes to Cougar Palace on Monday for a 7 p.m. contest, the Pioneers come in with a 4-3 record. The Lancers come to WNCC on Tuesday with a 2-7 record after dropping their last two games, falling to Northeastern Junior College 67-64 on Thursday and then 83-81 to Southeast Community College on Saturday. Sat, 22 Nov 2025 05:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/2025112304jkbk https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/202511223al0nv CHEYENNE, Wyo. – The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team put three in double figures led by Isaiah St. Preux with 20 points, but it wasn’t enough as the Cougars fell 99-81 to No. 15 College of Southern Idaho Friday at the LCCC Classic. The Cougars will wrap up the LCCC Classic with an 11 a.m. contest against Salt Lake Community College before returning home for a pair of games on Monday and Tuesday against Miles Community College and Eastern Wyoming College. Friday’s contest was a battle in the first half. WNCC took a 13-8 lead early on a Isaiah St. Preux 3-pointer. CSI tied the game at 15, but WNCC held a 20-18 lead. That was when CSI went on a 11-2 run to lead 29-22. WNCC sliced the lead to 32-29 on another 3-pointer but ended up trailing at halftime 43-37. Fri, 21 Nov 2025 05:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/202511223al0nv https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/20251116101gi4 THATCHER, Ariz. – The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team finished off the EAC Classic in Thatcher, Arizona, dropping a pair of games over the weekend. On Friday, the host Eastern Arizona College Gila Monsters had 19-0 runs to open the first and second halves and went on to win 111-73. Saturday’s contest with Cochise College was a little different. WNCC held a 24-8 lead and a 39-38 halftime lead. Cochise outscored WNCC 44-30 in the second half to claim the 82-69 win. Sat, 15 Nov 2025 05:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/20251116101gi4 https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/2025111250eokl TORRINGTON, Wyo. – The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team captured their first win of the season, holding Eastern Wyoming College to just seven points in the final six minutes to earn the 81-78 win Tuesday night in Torrington, Wyoming. WNCC head coach Roybell Baez said they had their ups and downs, but the defensive intensity to overcome a 9-point deficit with 6:20 to play and then to hold EWC to just seven points the rest of the game was crucial. “I thought the game was up and down. We had our stretches when we weren’t playing very well, but we also had more stretches of playing good,” Baez said. “And, honestly, I thought our guys did a really good job of staying together. This is a really tough place to play.” Tue, 11 Nov 2025 05:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/2025111250eokl https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/202511094qu4u6 ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. – Western Nebraska Community College’s Viktor Lukic-Gavric went for 30 points, including going 11-of-12 from the charity stripe as the Cougars fell to Butler Community College 114-95 to finish off the Cowley Classic. Saturday’s contest was one for the mathematicians, as the first half was relatively low-scoring, with Butler holding a 44-33 halftime lead. The second half saw the two teams combine for 132 points as Butler outscored WNCC 70-62 in the win. WNCC Lukic-Gavric had impressive numbers, burying three 3-pointers while going 11-of-12 from the free throw line and going 8-of-16 from the field. The Cougars also got double-digit scoring from Xavier Kirkpatrick with 12 points and 10 points each from Amare Jackson and Isaiah St. Preux. Sat, 08 Nov 2025 05:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/202511094qu4u6 https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/2025110825cp3g ARKANSAS CITY, Kan. – The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team gave No. 12 Cowley County Community College a run battle in the first half before the Tigers earned the 80-58 win Friday night. WNCC held a 10-9 lead with 14:22 to play on an Isaiah St. Preux bucket. Cowley came back to go up 15-10 and later 23-17 with 7:58 to play in the opening half. Fri, 07 Nov 2025 05:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/2025110825cp3g https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/20251102sc04ud 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. Sat, 01 Nov 2025 04:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/20251102sc04ud https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/202511013xj99z The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team showed a lot of grit in their season-opening game with Snow College on Friday. WNCC outscored the Badgers 54-49 in the second half and cutting a 16-point deficit down to four with 17 seconds to play before falling 95-89. WNCC will have another contest Saturday when they host Dodge City Community College at 6 p.m. Snow College will face Casper College at 4 p.m. on Saturday. Fri, 31 Oct 2025 04:00:00 GMT https://wnccathletics.com/sports/mbkb/2025-26/releases/202511013xj99z