Gillette College tripped over the first hurdle in a critical stand of regional games, falling 82-72 to Central Wyoming College on Wednesday in Riverton for their first Region IX loss of the season.
The Rustlers (13-4, 3-3 in Region IX) jumped the Pronghorns early with a 45-point first half scoring effort. Braden Wright came off the bench and to lead all scorers with 20 points in 18 minutes.
The Pronghorn men (13-5, 4-1) had four players in double digits.
George Edwards, a 6-foot-5 freshman from Chicago who's ninth in the region in scoring, led the way with 18 points.
James Hunter chipped in a double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds.
Kashaune McKinney had 13 and
Reece Maxwell finished with 11 for Gillette College, which shot just 39 percent from the floor.
The Pronghorns have been on a roll, winning the first four games of the Region IX schedule, including an 80-66 victory over Western Wyoming Community College, which came into town ranked No. 9 in the country.
But Gillette never got untracked in Riverton, despite shooting 41 percent from the floor in the first half. The Rustlers were just too hot to chase down, shooting 60 percent from the floor.
Gillette remains in a tie for first in the Northern Conference with Sheridan (15-2, 4-1) and will travel to face the Generals on the road Jan. 28.
In other Northern Conference action, Miles Community College defeated Northwest College 84-70.
Casper College easily handled Little Big Horn College 132-74.
Sheridan slipped past Dawson Community College 83-80.