Wiggins & Defense Fuels Split at Foss Motors Thanksgiving Classic

The Lamar Community College men's basketball team capped off their Thanksgiving weekend with a split at the Foss Motors Thanksgiving Classic hosted at Casper College. The Runnin' Lopes dropped a heartbreaker to Western Wyoming Community College, 79-77, before bouncing back to take down the host 92-69. The win improved Lamar to 6-4 overall.

Lamar was paced by Kevon Wiggins (SO/Rose Hall Town, Guyana) and Kris Cook (FR/Los Angeles, Calif.). Wiggins led the Runnin' Lopes with an average of 29 points on 56.4 percent from the field, 22 of 39, and a blistering 60 percent, 12 of 20, from behind the three-point arc. While Cook averaged 17 points per game on 54.5 percent from the field, 12 of 22, and 45.5 percent from behind the three-point line. Khalil Haywood (FR/Los Angeles, Calif.) also added an average of 11 points in the two games.

Kipplyn Richvine (FR/Brooklyn, N.Y.) led the Runnin' Lopes in rebounding. Richvine corralled 6.5 rebounds a night off the bench. Tim Montgomery (FR/Virginia Beach, Va.) dished out nine assists in Lamar's night two win over Casper.

In the first game, against Western Wyoming, Lamar led for majority of the game, but a late run by the Mustangs gave them the win. Lamar held a 43-37 advantage at the half, but were outscored 42-34 in the second stanza. In the game, Western Wyoming shot better from the field, from three-point, and snagged six more rebounds than the Runnin' Lopes.

Lamar bounced back the next day to cruise to a win over Casper. Lamar went to the intermission with a 46-41 lead, and were fueled in the second half by a combination of Wiggins shooting, and stellar defense. In the first half, the guard was a modest 3 of 7 from the floor and 1 of 4 from deep. In the second half however, Wiggins came out with a hot hand to pour in 24 second half points and was a perfect 8 for 8 from the three-point line. His shooting was only part of the second half story though. The Runnin' Lopes held the Thunderbirds offense to just 28 second half points. Lamar shot better from the field, from the three-point line, and the free throw line. They also had a rebounding advantage, had 14 assists with just six turnovers, compared to Casper's 12 assist and 19 turnovers. The Runnin' Lopes held a 27 to 7 advantage in points off of turnovers, and controlled the paint outscoring the Thunderbirds 32 to 18.

"I'm just really proud of our group. I thought we kept a great mindset and focus going into Saturday night after dropping a tough one the day before," said head men's basketball coach Justin Cellars. "Credit to our guys for sticking together and playing, in my opinion, their most complete game of the season in a tough environment against a very talented Casper team. To compete in Region IX, those are two great games to prepare our group for what's to come."

Lamar will next play at Frank Phillips College on December 7, and will conclude the first semester portion of their schedule on December 10, and 11 in Windsor, Colo. in a region crossover with matchups against Eastern Wyoming College, and Casper College.