Preview: Western Wyoming at Eastern Wyoming Men’s Basketball

TORRINGTON, Wyo. (Interstat) — Two Wyoming junior college men’s basketball teams seeking momentum will meet Friday when the Western Wyoming Mustangs visit the Eastern Wyoming Lancers.

The game, scheduled for Feb. 20, 2026, is a rematch of a Jan. 28 contest won by Western Wyoming, 72-61, in Rock Springs.

Western Wyoming (7-12) enters having lost three of its last four games, most recently a 90-82 road loss to Casper on Feb. 14. The Mustangs are led by forward Paulius Narvilas, who is coming off a dominant 30-point, 16-rebound performance in that defeat. Narvilas has been a force when given extended minutes, averaging 24 points and 14.5 rebounds over his last two games with significant playing time. Support comes from Caelum Harris, who posted a 12-point, 11-rebound double-double against Casper.

Eastern Wyoming (6-21) has struggled through a difficult season but showed a spark in a 107-104 overtime victory over Laramie County on Feb. 11. The Lancers are paced by guard Isiah Ayala, who nearly recorded a triple-double with eight points, seven rebounds and seven assists in a loss to Casper on Feb. 18. Ayala has been a consistent contributor, logging a double-double of 13 points and 11 rebounds in the overtime win and averaging 13.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 4.3 assists over his last four full games.

Both teams have found wins hard to come by this season, making this regional matchup critical for building confidence late in the schedule. Western Wyoming will look to control the interior through Narvilas, while Eastern Wyoming will rely on Ayala’s all-around playmaking.

Following this game, the teams are scheduled to meet again the next day, Saturday, Feb. 21, in Torrington to complete the back-to-back series.