IHCC Wins Tourney Opener

Scottsbluff, Neb. -- Indian Hills pulled away from a two-point lead early in the second half and went on to defeat Eastern Wyoming College, 68-62, in a first-round game in the Western Nebraska Thanksgiving Classic on Thursday night.

Matt Rosenbaum brought EWC to within two at 37-35 with a three-pointer early in the second half, but the Warriors (9-1) responded by outscoring the Lancers 23-11 over the next seven minutes to open up their largest lead of the night, 14 points. EWC got to within five points with just under a minute to play, but Jerome Jones helped IHCC hold off Eastern with four free throws in the final 54 seconds.

Jones had a season-high 16 points to pace Indian Hills. Trey Starks had 13, all but two of them in the second half. Rosenbaum and Jordan Johnson each had 15 for the Lancers.

Indian Hills will take on Williston State (ND) College on Friday night.

INDIAN HILLS 68, EASTERN WYOMING 62

INDIAN HILLS Stephen Coles 3 0-1 6, Jerome Jones 4 8-12 16, Dijon Farr 4 2-5 11, Trey Starks 4 5-5 13, Bruno Ferreira 0 2-2 2, Riley Stuve 1 2-2 4, Chad Dillard 3 0-0 7, Gary Ricks 2 0-0 4, Latroy Taylor 0 1-2 1, Giovanni Smith 1 1-2 4, D.J. Bennett 0 0-0 0 Team 22 21-31 68

EASTERN WYOMING Matt Rosembaum 5 4-4 15, Ivan Simic 2 1-2 5, Jarett Upchurch 3 2-2 9, Jordan Johnson 5 4-5 15, Zach Young 1 2-2 4, Chad Cottam 3 0-4 6, Corey Puckett 2 0-0 5, Mak Boskailo 1 0-1 3 Team 22 13-20 62

Halftime score: Indian Hills 34, Eastern Wyoming 24; Three-point field goals: IHCC 3 (Farr 1, Dillard 1, Smith 1); EWC 5 (Rosenbaum 1, Upchurch 1, Johnson 1, Puckett 1, Boskailo 1)