TORRINGTON – Two decisive six-point runs by the Eastern Wyoming College (EWC) Lancers late in the second half of the January 8 home game against the Northeastern Junior College (NEJC) Plainsmen resulted in a 76-68 victory for the Lancers.

The first half between EWC and NEJC ended with the Lancers ahead by a single possession, 35-33. 

Nine Lancers contributed to the points spread in the opening 20 minutes of regulation, a sign of solid teamwork boding well for the second half. 

Freshman Alain Nziza led the Lancers with nine points in the first half. Fellow freshman LaThario Miller netted six points with four apiece from sophomore Bilal Cisse, freshman Jouk Mayan and freshman Chris Pitts. Freshman Eli Igiranez, sophomore Khayree Rashed, freshman Jaironn Speights and freshman Russell Moorer each contributed a bucket.

The second half turned into a point-for-point battle. NEJC tied the game at 35 points. A six-point run by Moorer and Cisse placed the Lancers firmly in the lead, 49-42, with 10:07 remaining in regulation.

The Plainsmen pulled up to match EWC in scoring at 50 points. A reverse layup from Speights and a free throw by Nziza returned the advantage to EWC, 53-50.

The game deadlocked again at 55 points. Miller responded with a close-range shot before the Plainsmen sank a bucket, and the game reached a 57-57 stalemate.

Taking possession, Mayan drained an outside shot and the Lancers took control of the scoreboard, 60-57, with roughly four minutes remaining in regulation.

NEJC managed to remain within one possession of overtaking the Lancers as the second half reached 3:43. 

The Lancers launched a six-point run, anchored by Speights and Nziza to establish a 68-62 lead with less than two minutes on the clock. Speights went 2-for-2 at the charity stripe and Nziza capped scoring off for the Lancers with a shot from inside the perimeter.

Nziza set the pace for the Lancer offense throughout the game, tallying 21 points against the Plainsmen. Speights also netted double digits with 11 points.

Moorer contributed nine points, Miller eight, Mayan seven, Cisse six, Rashed five, Pitts four and Igiranez three.