Trojans Overwhelmed on the Road in Loss at Garden City
January 14, 2026
The Colby Community College men’s basketball team ran into a difficult road environment on January 14 as the Trojans traveled to Garden City and were handed a 122–71 loss by a deep and efficient Broncbuster squad.
Garden City seized control early and never relinquished momentum, building a 70–36 halftime advantage before continuing to extend the margin in the second half. The loss dropped Colby to 4–13 overall and 2–9 in conference play, while Garden City improved to 11–6 on the season and 6–5 in league action.
Colby showed brief flashes early, scoring the first four points of the game and competing on the glass in the opening minutes, but turnovers and defensive breakdowns quickly swung momentum. Garden City capitalized on mistakes throughout the night, scoring 35 points off turnovers while holding Colby to 20 in the same category. The Broncbusters also leaned heavily on their bench, outscoring Colby’s reserves 69–28, a key factor in the widening gap as the game wore on.
The Trojans struggled to find a consistent offensive rhythm, shooting 32.4 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from three-point range. Garden City, by contrast, connected on 47.5 percent of its shots and knocked down 15 three-pointers, repeatedly stretching the floor and creating open looks in transition. Rebounding was another challenge for Colby, as Garden City held a 47–37 edge on the boards and converted second-chance opportunities into 17 points.
Individually, D.J. Cason led Colby with 20 points, attacking the basket and getting to the free-throw line eight times. Braedyn Gillespie added 10 points and showed energy on both ends of the floor, while Kellan Simoneau chipped in 11 points off the bench. Nana Keutcha provided a strong presence on the glass with 10 rebounds to go along with two points, anchoring Colby’s interior effort despite the size and depth of the Garden City frontcourt.
Garden City’s balanced scoring attack proved difficult to contain. Zaire Lott and Xavier Johnson each scored 20 points off the bench, while Jordon Nevill added 18 points, including three three-pointers and perfect shooting from the free-throw line. The Broncbusters’ ability to rotate fresh bodies and maintain pressure on both ends steadily wore down the Trojans as the game progressed.
Despite the final score, the road trip provided valuable experience for a young Colby roster navigating a challenging conference schedule. Facing a disciplined, high-powered opponent exposed areas that will be points of emphasis moving forward, particularly ball security, defensive communication, and rebounding consistency.
The Trojans will look to regroup quickly as they continue conference play, using the Garden City matchup as a teaching opportunity and a benchmark for the physicality and execution required on the road. With several games still ahead, Colby aims to translate lessons from this setback into growth as the season moves toward its latter stages. Next, the Trojans will be hosting Butler Community College on January 17 at the Colby Event Center.