Danilo Matovic has a career night as Knights defeat Southeast

North Platte, Neb. – A career-high 22 points for Danilo Matovic helped North Platte close out the Storm of Southeast Community College on Saturday evening, 85-77.

Matovic led the Knights on the glass totaling 12 rebounds, while Nico Felici accounted for 21 points, nine rebounds and three assists in thirty-four minutes of action.

Knights won the opening tip, but the Storm fired the first blow by scoring the opening basket of the game. North Platte rallied and took their first lead of the game on a three by German Plotnikov at the eighteen-minute mark of the first half.

Knights stretched their lead to double-digits six minutes later, after Matovic found Felici in transition for the layup, 15-4. The margin stayed above six for the remainder of the half, as the Knights extended their lead to fifteen by the halftime break, 42-27.

Southeast went on a run in the opening minutes of the second half, to cut the deficit to five with 11:22 to play. Jevarrick Butler, who tallied 17 points on the night, answered from the perimeter to halt the run and extend the lead back to eight, 55-47.

North Platte and Southeast traded baskets over the next seven minutes, as the margin remained under ten during that stretch. Back-to-back baskets by Matovic helped push the lead back to double-figures, as the Knights recaptured the momentum.

Southeast once again narrowed the deficit to five, but the Knights closed the game out by going 6-of-6 from the free throw line over the remaining seventy-two seconds to clinch their tenth win of the season.

Knights (10-11) return home for a basketball doubleheader on Tuesday, Feb. 15 against rival McCook Community College at 7 p.m. North Platte fans are encouraged to wear gold for gold out to the McDonald-Belton Gymnasium.