Sunday, February 09, 2014

WNCC men fall to Otero



               LA JUNTA, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College men’s basketball team battled foul trouble and had its four-game winning streak snapped with a 77-69 loss to Otero Junior College Saturday afternoon in La Junta, Colo.
               The Cougars never could find any rhythm in the contest as the Rattlers opened up a 25-9 first-half lead before Otero held a 41-25 lead.
               In the second half, the Cougars cut the lead to nine points on several occasions. Each time, however, Otero had an answer. The Cougars also couldn’t get shots to fall in the contest.
               WNCC did mount a late comeback. The Cougars sliced the lead to nine, 69-60 after two Diante Mitchell free throws. The Cougars sliced the lead even further as Tyler Crosbie got a steal and converted the And One to get within six, 69-63.
               Otero came back, hitting xx straight free throws to push the lead back to 75-63. Preston Christensen cut the deficit back to single digits with an old-fashioned 3-point play. Also late, Crosbie buried a 3-pointer to bring the lead to 77-67, but it wasn’t enough.
               WNCC had four in double figures. Brandon Morley finished with 14 points followed by Derrick Bowers with 13, and Mitchell and Crosbie with 12 points each.
               Chris Golden led all scorers, finishing with 26 points for Otero.
               WNCC will be back in action this weekend when they go on the road for more sub-region games when they travel to North Platte and McCook.

WNCC                  25 44 -- 69
Otero                   41 36 -- 77
WNCC
Julio Guity 2, Brandon Morley 14, Preston Christensen 9, Tyler Crosbie 12, Youssoupha Kane 1, Diante Mitchell 12, DouDou Gueye 2, Jalen Griffiths 2, Derrick Bowers 13.

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