Knights men’s basketball falls short against Lamar

Lamar, Colo. – Knights held a six-point lead to open the second half, but it would not hold off the Runnin' Lopes of Lamar Community College on Tuesday night, 73-65.

Nico Felici accounted for 18 points and seven assists, while fellow guard German Plotnikov totaled 15 points on 4-of-9 shooting from the floor.  

The Runnin' Lopes leapt out to a ten-point lead in the opening 9:40 of the first half, before a 22-2 run gave the Knights the 33-23 lead. Plotnikov led the surge, accounting for 10 points during that stretch including two three-point shots and one assist to Felici, who also capitalized on a shot from the perimeter.

Lamar slowly cut into the margin over the final 4:17, narrowing the deficit to four as the teams headed into the halftime break, 37-33.

Danilo Matovic pushed the Knights lead to six in the opening moments of the second half, but Lamar recaptured the lead with 15:42 remaining. North Platte continued to battle keeping the margin under five, until eventually tying the game at 52-52.

Lamar answered with back-to-back three-point shots to stretch their lead to six with 7:24 to play. Knights kept the margin from advancing any higher until the Runnin' Lopes stretched their lead to eight with 2:15 remaining. North Platte had a few chances down the stretch, but Lamar closed out the game by going 6-for-6 at the free throw line inside the final minute.

Knights (8-11) will look to rebound as they return home for a Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference matchup against Central Community College on Thursday, Feb. 10 at 6 p.m.