Knights suffer first loss of season

North Platte, Neb. – North Platte Community College men's basketball team continued their four game homestand on Wednesday night against Colby Community College. The battle on the hardwood continued for all 40 minutes, but it would be the Trojans who would hand the Knights their first loss of the season, 84-72.

Colby opened the game with an aggressive 7-2 run over the opening 1:20 of the first half. Knights quickly cut the deficit down to one possession, as an offensive putback by Danilo Matovic and a two-handed jam by German Plotnikov brought the Knights back within one, 6-7.   

Teams continue to trade buckets over the next two minutes, before the Knights took their first lead of the contest as Jevarrick Butler found Timur Krupalija for the two-handed jam, 12-10. Colby responded and retook the lead on their next possession before stretching their lead to six by the midway point of the first half, 16-22.

North Platte answered with a short 9-2 run over the next 2:42 to reclaim the lead on a three by German Plotnikov, 25-24. Knights and Trojans continued to trade buckets down the final seven minutes, but a short 8-4 run by the Trojans in the closing minutes gave them the lead at the break, 34-38.

Trojans extended their lead out to eight in the opening minutes of the second half, before the Knights responded with a 9-4 run, capped off by a Butler three pointer. Colby answered with a run of their own and extended their lead to 13 with 9:34 to play, 50-63.

Knights attempted one last run over the closing minutes and managed to cut the deficit to seven on a reverse layup by Plotnikov. Colby responded and limited the offensive chances for the Knights down the stretch, which kept North Platte from mounting the momentum needed to complete the comeback.   

Knights had two scorers in double digits to finish the night as Butler and Plotnikov closed the night with 26 and 20 points, respectively. Matovic was the top rebounder for the Knights finishing his 22 minutes with six rebounds.

North Platte (1-1) will open the weekend doubleheader with Laramie County Community College on Friday night. Tip is set for 7pm inside the McDonald-Belton Gymnasium.