Knights fall in overtime to Golden Eagles

North Platte, Neb. – North Platte men's basketball team suffered heartbreak as the Golden Eagles of Laramie County Community College came from behind to defeat the Knights in overtime, 84-88.

The Golden Eagles jumped out to a five-point advantage to start the overtime period, before Nico Felici found a cutting Timur Krupalija inside for an open layup, 79-82. North Platte cut the deficit down to one as Jevarrick Butler earned a trip to the free throw line and connected on both of his free throw attempts, 81-82.

Laramie County responded by adding to their lead on their next offensive possession, but the Knights continued to keep it close as German Plotnikov found Felici open on a back cut to draw them back within one with 1:55 to play, 83-84. Laramie County didn't relinquish their lead down the final seconds and closed the game at the free throw line, stealing the win away from the Knights.

The Golden Eagles jumped out to a four-point lead in the opening forty-five seconds of the first half. Knights received their first bucket of the night as Krupalija got his contested layup to fall over the outstretched hand of defender. Laramie County answered the bucket with their own to extend the lead back out to four with 18:38 to play in the first half, 2-6.

North Platte answered with a 9-0 run over the next three minutes to take their first lead of the game on a Butler straight away three, 11-6. Knights continued the offensive attack stretching their lead to nine on a Plotnikov three. The Golden Eagles answered and trimmed the Knights lead down to three as the clock moved inside 11:20 to play in the opening half.

A reverse layup by Krupalija and a free throw line jumper by Plotnikov pushed the North Platte lead out to eight. Knights and Golden Eagles continued to trade baskets back and forth down the stretch but managed to end the half with a seven-point advantage, 40-33.

North Platte extended their lead to nine in the opening minute of the second half on a mid-range jumper by Danilo Matovic. The Knights continued to battle on the defensive end holding their lead steady over the opening nine minutes of the second half.

Laramie County began to cut into the deficit and swing some of the momentum in their favor as the clock moved inside the final ten minutes of regulation. North Platte answered by pushing their lead back to five as Matovic was able to get his contested layup in the paint to fall, 58-53. The Golden Eagles continued to hang around and eventually tied the game up with 5:08 to play.

North Platte regained the lead on their next possession and quickly extended their lead to six, 72-66. Inside a minute to play, the Knights held a four-point advantage, but Laramie County erased the deficit and forced an overtime period.

North Platte had four scorers who finished the night in double digits including Plotnikov (23), Krupalija (16), Felici (15), and Butler (15). Krupalija was the Knights top rebounder finishing with nine rebounds in twenty-six minutes.

Knights will close out the opening week of the 2021-22 season against Eastern Wyoming College on Saturday afternoon. Tip is set for 4pm at the McDonald-Belton Gymnasium.