Laramie County Community College's men's basketball team beat the Runnin’ Lopes of Lamar Community College 83-71 on Jan. 13.

The Eagles came out firing, shooting 55 percent from the field and taking a 41-27 halftime lead. The second half was similar to the first. LCCC shot 52 percent for the game compared with Lamar’s 34 percent. The Eagles had a big game defensively as well with 19 team blocks, 10 coming from Ude Ifeanyichukwu.

The next night, LCCC lost a close game to the Plainsmen of Northeastern Junior College 59-61 on Jan. 14.

The teams came out trading baskets, and the lead. The Golden Eagles took a one-point lead going into the half, 30-29. In the second half, the Plainsmen pulled away with a big lead with six minutes remaining. The Golden Eagles stepped up their defense and forced some turnovers and were able to close the gap. The score was 57-61, with time running out, when LCCC’s LaMel Hamberg attempted a 3-point shot and was fouled with 0.1 left on the clock. The shot missed and Hamberg was awarded three free throws. Hamberg made the first two shots to make the score 59-61. He purposely missed the third shot in hopes that an LCCC player would get a tip in for the tie, but Hamberg’s shot bounced off the rim and over the LCCC players’ hands as time ran out.

The Golden Eagles (6-10 overall, 1-1 south sub-region) will travel to Trinidad, Colo., on Jan. 20 to take on Trinidad State Junior College and then over to La Junta, Colo., on Jan. 21 to face off with the Rattlers of Otero Junior College.