Story by Daniel Stinman MPCC Area Director of Marketing and Public Information
McCook, Neb. – North Platte Community College men’s basketball team battled with the Indians of McCook Community College on Tuesday evening at the Peter and Dolores Graff Center. The tough road environment was not too much as the Knights picked up their first road win of the season defeating the Indians, 96-89.
The Indians controlled the tip, but it would be the Knights that would get the first bucket of the game as Trevon Dennis laid it off the glass on the Knights opening possession. The Indians answered and stretched their lead to four by the 17:19 mark of the first half, 6-2.
Timur Krupalija gave the Knights back the lead with 12:44 to play in the half after he received the ball in the paint and laid it off the glass, 12-11. Knights and Indians continued to trade baskets over the next three minutes before German Plotnikov forced a McCook turnover and was able to slam it home with 8:47 to play in the half, 21-18.
The Knights lead grew to five, but the Indians halted the momentum tying the game up with 3:58 to play in the half, 30-30. The Indians regained the lead momentarily at the 2:04 mark of the first half but the Knights closed out the half on a 7-2 run to take the lead at the break, 41-37.
In the second half, the Knights and Indians continued their battle on the hardwood. Despite trailing by four at the break the Indians tied the game back up within the first two minutes of the second half, 43-43. The Knights retook the lead with 15:52 remaining in the second half and pushed their lead to seven on a Jevarrick Butler three pointer, 58-51.
The Indians responded outscoring the Knights 20-12 over the next seven minutes to retake the lead with 7:35 to play, 71-70. The Knights quickly responded on their next offensive possession as Dennis grabbed his own offensive rebound and put it back up for two.
The Knights never relinquished their lead over the final 7:15 even though the Indians cut the deficit to one with 6:26 to play. The Knights answered with a 6-0 run over the next two minutes and extended their lead to seven with 4:01 remaining, 82-75.
The Indians came within four in the closing minutes, but the Knights sealed their win at the free throw line going 10-of-12 down the stretch to earn the victory over their rival, 96-89.
The Knights had four starters in double digits including Plotnikov (37), Dennis (20), Danilo Matovic (14), and Jason Eubank (10). Plotnikov led the Knights on the glass with five rebounds.
The Knights (3-8) will close out their four-game road trip against Central Community College on Friday, March 5. Knights won the previous meeting this season on January 29, 82-60. Tip is set for 7:30 p.m. inside the Raider Field House in Columbus, Neb.