RIVERTON, WY – The Central Wyoming College Rustlers men's basketball team endured a challenging week of Region 9 North action, dropping a home contest to Laramie County Community College before falling in a narrow road battle at Eastern Wyoming College. Despite the setbacks, the Rustlers showed resilience and strong individual performances under Head Coach Pat Rafferty.

Late Surge Not Enough as Rustlers Fall to LCCC at Home

On Wednesday, January 21, the Rustlers hosted the Golden Eagles of Laramie County Community College at Rustler Gym. LCCC took control early, leading 40-36 at the half, and managed to pull away in the second period to secure a 78-64 victory.

CWC struggled from the perimeter, shooting just 16.7% from three-point range. The Golden Eagles were led by a standout 37-point performance from TJ Coulter.

Key Rustler Stats:

• Daniel Smith: Led CWC with 18 points and grabbed 7 rebounds.

• Isaac Patik: Recorded 11 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals.

• Jordan Peel: Contributed 10 points and 5 assists in the effort.

Rustlers Edged Out in Tight Road Battle at Eastern Wyoming

Central Wyoming looked to bounce back on Saturday, January 24, as they traveled to Torrington to face the Eastern Wyoming College Lancers. In a back-and-forth defensive struggle, the Rustlers ultimately fell short, 65-61.

The Rustlers' defense kept them in the game until the final moments, but EWC managed to protect their home court in the closing minutes to secure the narrow win.

Top Performers for CWC:

• Tyler Jette: Led the offense with 15 points and 4 rebounds.

• Isaac Patik: Followed up his strong Wednesday showing with 12 points and 8 rebounds.

• Camrin Gulley: Orchestrated the offense with 10 points, 4 assists, and a team-high 4 steals.

• Daniel Smith: Added 10 points and 5 rebounds.

Looking Ahead

The Rustlers (7-11, 1-2) will return to Riverton to regroup before their next home conference matchup against Northwest College on Saturday, January 31 at 4 P.M.