Story by Daniel Stinman Area Director of Marketing and Public Information
Columbus, Neb. - North Platte Community College men’s basketball team fell to the Raiders of Central Community College on a last second free throw on Friday night, 82-81.
Knights jumped out to a 14-10 advantage in the opening eight minutes of action against the Raiders on a German Plotnikov jumper. The home team responded going on a 22-5 run over the next five minutes as they heated up from the outside, 32-19. The Knights responded over the remaining minutes of the first half to cut the deficit to twelve at the break, 45-33.
In the second half, the Knights responded by cutting the deficit to four in the opening three minutes, 45-41. The Raiders quickly responded pushing the lead back to double digits as they connected on three straight attempts from beyond the arc, 54-41.
The Knights rallied over the next eleven minutes to tie the game up on a Plotnikov fade away jumper with 4:53 remaining, 73-73. Raiders pushed their lead back to four and maintained that lead until the clock moved inside the final minute.
Inside the final minute, the Knights cut the Raiders lead to three after Jevarrick Butler connected on the front end of two free throw opportunities. Trailing by three inside ten seconds remaining, Jason Eubank crossed up his defender and drilled a deep three to tie the game up with six seconds remaining, 81-81.
The Raiders had to go the length of the court to attempt a shot in the final seconds but were fouled as the clock expired and were awarded two free throw opportunities. The Raiders missed their initial free throw attempt but connected on the second to defeat the Knights, 82-81.
In the loss, the Knights fall to 3-9 on the year and will return home on Tuesday, March 9 to take on Northeastern Junior College. Tip is set for 7:00 p.m. inside the McDonald-Belton Gymnasium.