Lancer men split to end season

Andrew Towne
Posted 3/1/23

TORRINGTON – The Eastern Wyoming College men’s basketball team split a pair of high-scoring affairs to end the regular season on Saturday and Monday.

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Lancer men split to end season

Posted

TORRINGTON – The Eastern Wyoming College men’s basketball team split a pair of high-scoring affairs to end the regular season on Saturday and Monday.

On Saturday, the Lancers fell in a high-scoring shootout with Laramie County Community College 109-97.

The Lancers led 56-50 at halftime before the visitors stormed back with 59 second-half points to escape out of Torrington with the win.

The Golden Eagles shot a blistering 71.2% for the game, while EWC shot 53.7%.

Freshman guard John Barbee led the team with 22 points, while sophomore forward Marko Krtinic had 20. Freshman Micah Glover tossed in 16 points, while sophomore Malik Frederick had 15. Sophomore Ryan Swan added 12.

Torrington High School alum Jackson Jones scored three points for LCCC, making his only shot attempt of the game.

On Monday, the Casper College Thunderbirds came to Torrington on Monday to make up a rescheduled contest from Wednesday, Feb. 22.

The Lancers fended off the Thunderbirds in a 101-99 shootout.

The teams traded the lead seven times over the final 12 minutes of the game.

The final lead change came with only seconds left on the clock. With 23.9 left in the game, connected on a pair of free throws to give Eastern Wyoming a 99-98 lead.

However, the game was far from over.

With 8.6 left on the clock, Casper College knocked down one of two free throw attempts to tie the game at 99.

On the ensuing Lancer possession, Glover drove the length of the court and missed the layup, but Barbee was there to grab the offense rebound and slam it home giving EWC a 101-99 lead at the buzzer.

After some deliberation between the three officials, they added 2.8 seconds back on the clock, giving the Thunderbirds one more opportunity.

The shot at the buzzer from just inside the half court line was off the mark, securing the seventh victory of the season by the Lancers.

Leading up to the wild finish, Casper College led most of the game.

EWC spotted the visitors a 6-0 lead before Krtinic put the Lancers on the scoreboard.

The Lancers couldn’t get any closer than 15-14 until the 6:17 mark in the first quarter when Krtinic went 2-for-2 at the free throw line to tie the game at 31.

On the next Lancer possession, Krtinic gave EWC its first lead of the game at 33-31.

The lead was short-lived as Casper scored the next four points, and it was lead which the Thunderbirds held until 11:48 was left in the game.

Atte Vuoristo knocked down a 3-pointer to put EWC back on top 70-68, ultimately setting the stage for the thrilling finish.

Barbee led the team with 33 points, while Glover added 28. Krtinic had 21.

The Lancers end the regular season 7-23. They now turn their attention to the Region IX Tournament. Location and opponent of their first-round opponent has yet to be determined.

The Lancers finished the regular season with a 6-24 record.