Trojans open season with statement win over Sterling JV

The Colby Community College men’s basketball team tipped off its 2025-26 season in commanding fashion Saturday afternoon, rolling to a 100-62 victory over Sterling College’s junior varsity squad inside the Colby Event Center.

Behind a balanced offensive attack and unselfish play, the Trojans quickly set the tone with a 55-point first half and never looked back. Colby shot an efficient 54.9 percent from the field, connecting on 39 of 71 attempts, including 15 three-pointers on 37.5 percent shooting from beyond the arc.

Head coach Jarrod Stanford said afterward that the performance reflected the team’s identity both on and off the court.

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“We love the way this group shares the ball,” Stanford said. “It’s a full roster of unselfish basketball players who feed off each others’ successes. Our returners Aliou Diallo and DJ Cason have emerged as our culture carriers, both of them set a tone early and made it easy for our first year players to pick up what we aspire to do. Our goal remains to put ourselves in a position to win every game with our preparation and execution.”

Cason was one of the most efficient scorers on the floor, hitting all four of his three-point attempts on the way to 12 points, four rebounds, and two assists. Forward Giannis Asimakopoulos added 13 points and five rebounds, while guard Braedyn Gillespie matched him with 13 points off the bench, going 5-for-6 from the field.

Owen Reece chipped in 11 points on a perfect 4-for-4 shooting performance, and freshman guard Daniel Cramer contributed nine points and four assists. In all, 13 different Trojans found the scoring column, illustrating the depth and versatility of the lineup.

Defensively, Colby controlled the boards with a 38-0 rebounding margin recorded in the official box score, while forcing turnovers that helped fuel their transition game. The Trojans also recorded 17 assists as a team, a statistic that reflected the chemistry and ball movement Stanford highlighted.

Colby built its 27-point halftime lead by spreading the floor and taking advantage of transition opportunities. The team continued to apply pressure after the break, maintaining intensity through the final buzzer to reach the 100-point mark in the opener.

The win gives the Trojans an early boost of confidence as they prepare to dive deeper into their nonconference schedule. With returning leaders setting the tone and newcomers adjusting quickly to the college pace, Stanford’s squad appears poised for a season built on teamwork and consistency.

Colby will look to carry that momentum into its next matchup as the Trojans continue their early-season homestand.