Knights upset No. 22 Otero Junior College behind Plotnikov’s 47 points

North Platte, Neb. – German Plotnikov tallied twenty-seven of his 47 points in the opening half to lead the Knights to the 102-90 upset win over No. 22 Otero Junior College on Friday night.

Plotnikov's 47 points is a new career-high for the sophomore guard, as four Knights finished the game in double-figures. Caleb Horne tallied 14 points off the bench in twenty-nine minutes, while Jevarrick Butler and Timur Krupalija each finished the night with 13 points.

North Platte (11-12, 4-6) finished the game shooting 58.5 percent (38-65) from the field, while going 22-of-34 from the free throw line and forcing 22 turnovers.

Knights and Rattlers batted for the opening eight minutes, until a 9-3 run gave the Knights the 26-18 lead with 9:15 to play. North Platte extended their lead to twelve over the next three minutes, after Butler capitalized on the old fashioned three-point play.

The Rattlers cut into the margin over the next four minutes, as back-to-back three-point shots brought Otero back within three, 40-37. Knights held on to the lead over the closing minutes of the half, as they pushed their lead back to seven by the halftime break, 52-45.

Otero surged to open the second half and retook the lead with 15:46 to play, 61-59. Horne followed the missed shot, as his putback knotted the game up on the Knights next offensive possession. North Platte regained the momentum over the next four minutes, as a pullup jumper by Butler sparked an 8-2 run.

North Platte managed to distance themselves further, as the lead grew back to double-digits with 6:33 remaining. A pullup jumper by Plotnikov stretched the lead to twelve, before the Rattlers attempted one last run inside two minutes to play.

Otero cut the deficit to five after a three by Hunter Jack Madden. North Platte kept the Rattlers from closing the gap, as Plotnikov sealed the game by going seven-of-eight from the free throw line inside the final minute.

North Platte concludes the home portion of their 2021-22 schedule on Saturday against Trinidad State College at 4 p.m. The Trojans won the first meeting of the season back on Jan. 21, 83-71.