Men's Basketball Pushes Dodge City to the Limit in Road Game

DODGE CITY, Kan. - The Colby men's basketball team delivered one of their best performances of the season Wednesday (Dec. 3) night in Dodge City, pushing the Conquistadors into a wire-to-wire battle before falling 86–79 in a game defined by constant momentum swings. The Trojans (2–9, 0–5 KJCCC), played with urgency and poise, leading early, trading punches throughout and refusing to go away against a Dodge City team that entered the night 7–3 and one of the most efficient offensive squads in the conference.

The opening 20 minutes showcased some of the best half-court execution Colby has displayed this year. The Trojans jumped out to a seven-point lead just five minutes in, their largest advantage of the night, behind hot shooting from guards Aliou Diallo and D.J. Cason. The backcourt tandem combined for 25 first-half points, giving Colby consistent scoring and floor spacing. Diallo was especially sharp from the perimeter, hitting four three-pointers and finishing with 19 points overall along with four rebounds, two assists and two steals. Cason was equally composed and explosive, dropping 24 points, going 7-of-16 from the field, 4-of-6 from deep all while pulling down five rebounds and distributing three assists.

While Dodge City eventually surged ahead late in the first half to take a 49–37 lead at the break, Colby kept the door open with crisp passing and high-percentage looks. The Trojans finished the night with 14 assists, with multiple players contributing to ball movement, highlighted by four each from Gabe Njenga and Trey Allen. In the paint, Allen grabbed five rebounds, handing out three assists and knocking down a key three-pointer during a Colby run in the second half.

Forward Nana Keutcha helped anchor the inside presence, scoring eight of his 13 points in the second half on aggressive rim attacks and timely post finishes. He paired his scoring with six rebounds, tying for the team lead with Reece, who scored 12 points, going 6-for-6 at the free-throw line, while also collecting six rebounds.

As the half wore on, Colby continued to answer every Dodge City push. The Trojans knocked down 10 three-pointers, shooting 43.5 percent from beyond the arc, their most efficient long-range performance in conference play this season. They also held their own on the glass, winning the rebounding battle 31–29, including 11 offensive boards that fueled 18 second-chance points.

But the Conquistadors found separation at key moments, including shooting a blistering 53.1 percent from the field and converted 26 of 36 free-throw attempts, using trips to the line to halt Colby's momentum and slow the pace. Turnovers also played a defining role: Colby's 18 turnovers were turned into 22 Dodge City points, while the Conqs' 15 miscues led to only 12 Colby points. Dodge City's balanced attack was led by Derrick Rivers, who scored 24 points, and Rickey Loftin II, who delivered a perfect 5-for-5 shooting night for 17 points. Jayvion Nurse added 15, and Brad Johnson contributed 10 points along with seven rebounds and five assists.

Despite the loss, the Trojans' performance represented a significant step forward. In a game featuring 15 ties and 13 lead changes, Colby showed they could match the execution and scoring of one of the top teams in the conference. The team will return home for a match up against Cloud County Saturday (Dec. 6) in the Colby Event Center.