Trojans Battle Back but Fall Short at Dodge City, 86–79

The Colby Community College men’s basketball team showed grit throughout Wednesday night’s road test at Dodge City, cutting a double-digit deficit to a one-possession game multiple times in the second half. But despite the surge, turnovers and defensive struggles proved costly, and the Trojans dropped the December 2 conference matchup, 86–79.

Dodge City opened strong, shooting 53.1% from the field and taking a 49–37 lead into halftime. Colby countered with a far more energized second frame, using defensive pressure and timely scoring to claw back into contention. The Trojans outscored the Conquistadors 42–37 in the second half and tied the game at 53–53 with 16:19 remaining after a series of plays sparked by center Nana Keutcha, who finished with 13 points and six rebounds.

Sophomore guard D.J. Cason delivered a standout performance, pouring in 24 points on 7-of-16 shooting while hitting four three-pointers and a perfect 6-of-7 at the line. Freshman guard Aliou Diallo added 19 points, including four threes, and repeatedly fueled Colby runs that kept the Trojans within striking distance. Redshirt freshman forward Owen Reece gave the Trojans a boost off the bench with 12 points and six boards.

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But the margins were thin. Colby turned the ball over 18 times compared to Dodge City’s 15, and the Conquistadors capitalized with 22 points off those miscues. Dodge City also used relentless dribble penetration to generate high-percentage shots, finishing at 51% from the floor. The Trojans, meanwhile, shot 38.5% overall but stayed alive thanks to a strong 43.5% clip from beyond the arc and an impressive 79.2% from the free-throw line.

In the final five minutes, Dodge City’s timely execution—highlighted by key baskets from Derrick Rivers and Jayvion Nurse—kept Colby from completing the comeback. Colby remained within one possession at 73–72 after three straight free throws from Cason at the 5:28 mark, but the Conquistadors responded with an 8–2 run to pull away for good.

After the game, Head Coach Jerrod Stanford said he was proud of his team’s fight but emphasized the areas that must improve if the Trojans want to turn close losses into wins.

“We came out in the second half really determined to fight back and get into it,” Stanford said. “Our guys came out with great energy and really tried to get that deficit cut down and give ourselves a chance. They fought hard, but we had 18 turnovers and Dodge shot 51% from the floor. Those two things, night in and night out, are going to make it really hard to win.”

Stanford added that he believes fully in the team’s potential, especially after a strong preseason.

“I love these kids to death—they’re such tremendous human beings. They keep working and working. We spent all October winning, and I want them to taste victory again. I want that for these young men more than anything.”

Next up was Cloud County on December 6, a matchup that delivered plenty to talk about — but that’s a story for another day.

by Derek White