North Platte, Neb. – Reece Halley finished with a career high 18 points, as strong perimeter shooting propelled the Knights to a 77-65 win over Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference rival McCook Community College on Tuesday night.
The Knights (5-13, 1-0 NCCAC) connected on 41.4 percent (24-58) of their shots from the field, including 21-of-28 (.750) from the free throw line. Knights outrebounded McCook, 45-32, while pulling down 19 offensive rebounds which led to eight second chance points.
Halley helped the Knights race out to an early lead while tallying five of the opening eight points for North Platte. A three pointer from Noel Warrior electrified the crowd as the lead was stretched to 18-10 inside the final three minutes of the quarter. McCook found their rhythm offensively as they narrowed the margin to 23-17 by the end of the opening ten minutes.
North Platte maintained the momentum in the early stages of the second quarter, before a quick McCook rally cut the deficit to three. Fumnanya Ijeh halted the momentum shift with a long-range jumper, which ignited a 7-0 run to stretch the North Platte lead into double digits. Gemma Gruettner Bacoul silenced the run by driving baseline and finishing at the rim, but another 5-0 run to close the half gave the Knights the 41-28 advantage at the break.
The Knights lead stayed in double digits until a 4-0 burst late in the third quarter cut the deficit to 46-38. McCook took another swing at the deficit in the final two minutes, but a 4-0 run capped off by a three pointer from Warrior as time expired gave the Knights the 51-42 advantage headed into the final ten minutes.
North Platte faced some adversity midway through the fourth quarter, as McCook cut the deficit to six with 6:01 remaining in regulation. The margin was trimmed to five inside the final four minutes, but North Platte would not be denied the victory and responded down the stretch with clutch baskets, before finishing the game out at the free throw line.
Knights will return to the road to take on Region IX foe Southeast Community College on Friday. Tip is set for 5 p.m. in Beatrice, Neb.
