Feb. 11, 2008

Final Stats

The Northeastern Junior College Plainsmen were looking for revenge from an earlier loss against Casper College, and they found it in a big way, earning a 88-73 victory Friday night at the Bank of Colorado Event Center. NJC earns its eighth win in a row with the victory.

The first half seemed like a highlight reel from "SportsCenter." Sophomore Mike Dominguez kicked things off, after both teams started slow, with a three-pointer. After Casper answered back, sophomore Troy Smith connected on a field goal and fellow sophomore DeRay Wilson knocked in a three to give the good guys a five-point lead.

Sophomore Larwence Tyson hit back-to-back shots, and all of a sudden, the Plainsmen opened a 19-5 lead, forcing their opponent to call a time out.

Dominguez would hit on two more three's to give his team a 12-point lead, beginning what was a special five-minute period. He got a breakaway dunk off a steal, which was followed by dunks by AJ Wilson and Smith. Smith got his, leaving 38 seconds on the clock, which was the last basket of the first half, giving the Plainsmen holding a 38-24 lead.

DeRay Wilson continued to feel it on offense, collecting two field goals to open up the second half. Dominguez would hit yet another three-pointer, but the team would hit a flat point as soon as they got up 20 points.

During that span, the road team ran off a 10-0 run, closing the game to within 10 points. Casper cut the deficit to eight at one point, however, a three by freshman Alex Garcia-Mendoza and free throw by both Wilsons (not related) brought the game back to a 15-point lead.

Casper made its obvious runs, though, cutting the lead to nine at 67-58 and again at 70-62. The T-Birds would continue to run and close to as much as four points on a couple different occasions, but would not get any closer.

Northeastern would get a big three-pointer from Dominguez with 1:21 to play and the team got a huge block on the other side of the court by AJ Wilson to begin closing out their victory.

Free throws down the stretch by Smith, including a conventional three-point play, would send Casper packing with a loss.

DeRay capped off the final point on a breakaway poster dunk.

Leading the way for the Plainsmen was Dominguez with 26 points and six rebounds. He went nuts from behind the arc, connecting on eight from downtown in the win.

AJ Wilson finished with 16 points and seven rebounds, including a 4-4 performance at the free-throw line.

Smith added 13 points, while DeRay Wilson finished his night with 11.

Next up, NJC hits the road to play Trinidad State Junior College on Wednesday, Feb. 13.