STERLING, Colo. – The 11th–ranked Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team made a late run, but it wasn’t enough as missed free throws sent the Cougars to their first sub-region loss of the season 86-81 to Northeastern Junior College on Tuesday night in Sterling, Colo.
The Cougars shot 67 percent (21 of 31) from the free-throw line, but the Plainsmen shot a sizzling 83 percent (25 of 30).
The Cougars shot 67 percent (21 of 31) from the free-throw line, but the Plainsmen shot a sizzling 83 percent (25 of 30).
NJC really set the tone in the first half by canning four 3-pointers, while the Cougars connected on just one of seven 3-pointers.
The contest was tied 5-5 early after Raul Delgado hit a 3-pointer, but things turned quickly as NJC went up 10-5 and later led 23-13. WNCC closed within 29-21 on a Tahir Little driving bucket, but NJC hit a basket at the buzzer to go into halftime up 41-30.
The second half was a tight contest in the last 10 minutes. NJC held a 58-42 lead with 12 minutes to play. However, WNCC made a charge by going on a 12-2 run to cut the deficit to 60-54 on a Delgado 3-pointer and five points from Terrance Motley.
WNCC kept battling as Delgado had a four-point play to cut the lead to 67-62. The Cougars battled all the way back to 70-69 on back-to-back buckets by Du’Vaughn Maxwell. But NJC pushed the lead back to 79-73 with just over a minute to play.
Marko Kovacevic then hit back-to-back buckets with 1:11 to play to bring the Cougars back to within 79-77. After NJC went up 83-77, Delgado hit a 3-pointer to bring the Cougars back again with 10 seconds to play. But clutch free throws down the stretch gave NJC the win.
The win was crucial in the sub-region standings as NJC now holds the tiebreaker in the race to host the regional tournament. The teams will not meet again in the regular season. WNCC is 7-1 in sub-region play while NJC is 6-1. Otero and Laramie County each have two losses, so the final five sub-region contests are important for the Cougars to win to host the regional tournament, but they will need some help from some other teams along the way.
WNCC had three players score in double figures. Maxwell led the way with 20 points and nine rebounds. Also collecting double digits were Delgado with 17 points and four 3-pointers, while Motley had 11 points.
NJC was led by Joe Charles with 21 points and four 3-pointers. He also was 7 of 8 from the free throw line.
WNCC will next be in action on Saturday when it travels to face Lamar Community College in another sub-region contest.
The contest was tied 5-5 early after Raul Delgado hit a 3-pointer, but things turned quickly as NJC went up 10-5 and later led 23-13. WNCC closed within 29-21 on a Tahir Little driving bucket, but NJC hit a basket at the buzzer to go into halftime up 41-30.
The second half was a tight contest in the last 10 minutes. NJC held a 58-42 lead with 12 minutes to play. However, WNCC made a charge by going on a 12-2 run to cut the deficit to 60-54 on a Delgado 3-pointer and five points from Terrance Motley.
WNCC kept battling as Delgado had a four-point play to cut the lead to 67-62. The Cougars battled all the way back to 70-69 on back-to-back buckets by Du’Vaughn Maxwell. But NJC pushed the lead back to 79-73 with just over a minute to play.
Marko Kovacevic then hit back-to-back buckets with 1:11 to play to bring the Cougars back to within 79-77. After NJC went up 83-77, Delgado hit a 3-pointer to bring the Cougars back again with 10 seconds to play. But clutch free throws down the stretch gave NJC the win.
The win was crucial in the sub-region standings as NJC now holds the tiebreaker in the race to host the regional tournament. The teams will not meet again in the regular season. WNCC is 7-1 in sub-region play while NJC is 6-1. Otero and Laramie County each have two losses, so the final five sub-region contests are important for the Cougars to win to host the regional tournament, but they will need some help from some other teams along the way.
WNCC had three players score in double figures. Maxwell led the way with 20 points and nine rebounds. Also collecting double digits were Delgado with 17 points and four 3-pointers, while Motley had 11 points.
NJC was led by Joe Charles with 21 points and four 3-pointers. He also was 7 of 8 from the free throw line.
WNCC will next be in action on Saturday when it travels to face Lamar Community College in another sub-region contest.
WNCC 30 50 — 80
NJC 41 45 — 86
WNCC
Mike Peltz 5, Tahir Little 9, Du’Vaughn Maxwell 20, Raul Delgado 17, Marko Kovacevic 4, Terrance Motley 11, Mason Smith 3, Brady Mason 3, Sebastian Suarez 8.
NJC
Joseph Charles 21, Ray Riley 8, Anthony Crenshaw 18, Donthe Lucas 5, BJ Dunbar 4, James Stukes 10, Steven Liebert 15, Bobby Lebsock 3, Nolan Queen 2.
NJC 41 45 — 86
WNCC
Mike Peltz 5, Tahir Little 9, Du’Vaughn Maxwell 20, Raul Delgado 17, Marko Kovacevic 4, Terrance Motley 11, Mason Smith 3, Brady Mason 3, Sebastian Suarez 8.
NJC
Joseph Charles 21, Ray Riley 8, Anthony Crenshaw 18, Donthe Lucas 5, BJ Dunbar 4, James Stukes 10, Steven Liebert 15, Bobby Lebsock 3, Nolan Queen 2.
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