GILLETTE, Wyo. (Interstat) — Region IX men’s junior college basketball rivals will meet Saturday when the Gillette Pronghorns host the Central Wyoming Rustlers.

The Pronghorns (7-7 overall) enter the contest at .500, seeking consistency after a narrow 91-88 road loss to Western Wyoming on Wednesday. The Rustlers (4-7) arrive with momentum, having snapped a two-game skid with a 76-64 home victory over Casper that same night.

Central Wyoming will lean on the hot hand of guard Jordan Peel. The standout is coming off a dominant performance against Casper, logging 40 minutes and pouring in 25 points to go with seven rebounds and four assists. He was complemented by Daniel Smith (16 points, eight rebounds) and Isaac Patik. The Rustlers’ season has been uneven, with the win over Dawson on Dec. 13 representing their only other victory since late November.

Gillette’s path has been similarly mixed, though they boast a winning record at home. A key player to watch for the Pronghorns is Moses Blackwell, who contributed five points in eight minutes during a 94-84 win over Western Nebraska on Jan. 8. The Pronghorns have shown resilience at the Pronghorn Center, with notable home wins over Dawson and Williston State in December.

This matchup is the first of two regular-season meetings between the teams. They will meet again in Riverton on Wednesday, Feb. 4. For now, both squads are looking to establish early momentum in regional play. Central Wyoming aims to build on its latest win and climb toward .500, while Gillette looks to defend its home court and move above the break-even mark.

Tip-off is set for Saturday, Jan. 17, 2026, at the Pronghorn Center.