MEN'S BASKETBALL FALLS TO 13-2 HEADING INTO CONFERENCE PLAY
by Kevin White

ROCK SPRINGS, WYOMING - The Snow College men’s basketball team had hoped to avenge it’s only loss of the season Friday night in Riverton, Wyoming against the Central Wyoming. The Rustlers beat the Badgers in Ephraim six weeks ago 73-69 and the Badgers were riding a 10-game winning streak. The Rustlers however had different ideas jumping out to a 16-point halftime lead and then holding on for an 83-80 victory.

The Rustlers moved the lead to 25 with three-straight 3-pointers to open the second half before the Badgers, behind the hot shooting Ryan Brimley started closing the gap. The Badgers, trailing 82-80 actually had a chance to tie or take the lead in the final 30 seconds but the Rustlers were able to force a turnover and hold off the comeback attempt.

“It is hard when you get down by that many,” said Coach Michael Ostlund. “I am proud of the way our guys battled back to make it a game and even have a chance to escape with a win.”

Brimley led the Badgers with 32 points on eight 3-point field goals. Point Guard Donnie Lao continued his strong play with 16 points.

On Saturday, the Badgers started on new winning streak by beating Western Wyoming 74-71 behind 21 points from Brimley and 20 points and seven rebounds from pre-season All-American Rory Patterson.

The win moves the Badgers to 13-2 and completes one of the most successful pre-seasons in the past 20 years.

The Badgers now gear up for Scenic West Athletic Conference (SWAC) play and will head to Salt Lake on Saturday evening for a confrontation with defending conference champion Salt Lake Community College and a reunion between Ostlund and his former mentor Norm Parish. Salt Lake finished the pre-season at 14-1 and is currently ranked Number 12.

Snow College, founded in 1888, serves approximately 3,000 students at its Ephraim campus. The college provides general education and applied technology programs leading to Associate of Arts, Associate of Science, Associate of Applied Science and Associate of Pre-Engineering degrees, and certificates of completion in a number of occupational areas.  Once owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, Snow College became a state college in 1932.

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