North Platte sweeps series over MCC with 79-65 win

NORTH PLATTE – The North Platte Community College men scored a 79-65 win over McCook Community College Tuesday.

"Fouls and free throws were the story of the game," said MCC Coach Jacob Brandl. "We just made too many unforced mistakes tonight to win this game."

The Indians committed 25 personal fouls, missed 12 free throws and turned the ball over 20 times.

MCC shot 41.3 percent from the field, made five of 20 shots from the 3-point line (25 percent) and went eight of 20 at the free-throw line.

"At one point we were the 10th best free-throw shooting team in the country and we just laid an egg in that area," said Brandl.

The Indians were outscored at the free-throw line 21-8.

"So you pile on 20 turnovers as well as going eight-for-20 from the line and it makes it really hard to win a basketball game," said Brandl.

MCC won the battle on the boards 43-36.

"Our guys fought and battled and at times played some really good basketball," said Brandl. "In the last game we played we got beat up on the glass, tonight we did a really good job there."

Sophomore Zeki Cavli (Bodrum, Turkey) led MCC with 16 points and six assists. Freshman Louie Tucker (Bristol, England) scored 13. Bryan Akanmu (Paris, France) scored 12 and had six boards while sophomore Ty Foster (Bronx, N.Y.) put in 10 points.

Sophomore Brandon Kabuya Mpoyi (Paris, France) led MCC on the glass with 11 rebounds and had six rebounds off the bench.

"Down the stretch I thought our offense got moving and we looked good we need to get that spacing and pace early in games so we can play with a lead," said Brandl.

North Platte shot 45.6 percent from the field, made six of 16 3-pointers (37.5 percent) and made 21 of 29 free throws (72.4 percent.)

The Knights improve to 3-5 in Region IX south play and 12-12 overall. NPCC sweeps the season series after coming to McCook two weeks earlier and handed the Indians a 93-65 loss at home.

MCC is in fourth place in the standings at 4-5 and slip to 9-16 overall.

The Indians host Western Nebraska Friday. The Cougars are tied for first place in the Region IX South at 7-1. Western Nebraska handed MCC a 90-71 loss Jan. 26 at Scottsbluff.

Up-to-date information about MCC basketball including schedules, statistics, rosters and photos can be found on the MCC Athletics website, www.mccindians.com.

Men's Region IX South Standings
                       W-L   PCT    Overall
Trinidad State   7-1   .875    18-6
Western Neb.    7-1   .875    18-8
Northeastern    4-4   .500    11-12
McCook            4-5   .444     9-16
North Platte      3-5   .375    12-12
Otero JC           2-6   .250     9-16
Lamar CC         1-6   .143     8-17