The Cougars outshot Gillette College from the field, but the Pronghorns were sizzling from the free throw line, connecting on 18 of 20 free throws as Gillette registered a 76-67 win Friday in the first day of the tournament.

It was the second time in a week that the two squads met. Last week, the Cougars earned a hard fought 80-76 win. In Friday’s contest, WNCC was a dismal 4 of 10 from the charity stripe after shooting nearly 90 percent from the free throw line the last two nights.

“We did a poor job of keying in on their best player,” WNCC coach Russ Beck said. “We were not solid defensively and were unable to play with the intensity required to win.”

Gillette’s DeJuan Wright lit up the Cougars for 29 points. The Pronghorns also took advantage of 17 WNCC turnovers.

WNCC led just once in the contest at 6-4 on two Geddes Robinson free throws. After that, Gillette took control, taking a 23-17 lead and pushed the lead to 41-29 at halftime.

In the second half, WNCC sliced the lead to seven points on several occasions, but couldn’t cut the deficit any closer as the Cougars suffered their second defeat of the season.

WNCC was paced by Geddes Robinson with 20 points and Francisco Cruz with 17.

The Cougars, 9-2, will look to get back on the winning track Saturday against the host team Sheridan College at 5 p.m. Sheridan, 8-1, was a 114-80 winner against Lake Region State College.

WNCC (9-2) 32 35 – 67

Gillette (7-3) 41 35 – 76