North Platte Community College men's basketball fell in their home opener 78-52 Tuesday to Colby (Kan.) Community College. "I thought we played hard tonight," said head coach Jacob Brandl.
"The season is young, and we will learn from our mistakes and get better." Sedrick Nari led the way with 19 points, seven rebounds and three assists, while Mo Diao finished with 16 points and six rebounds. North Platte trailed early before a baseline jumper from Alex Harper sparked a 6-0 run to give the black and gold a three-point edge.
Colby battled back to retake the lead on a 5-0 run while the teams traded baskets for the next nine minutes. A Nari 3 pushed the Knights lead to 22-21, but the Trojans rallied to take a four-point lead with 3:11 remaining in the half. North Platte closed the half on an 11-2 run to take a 35-30 lead into halftime.
Colby erased the deficit in the opening minutes of the second half. A Diao mid-range jumper halted the rally as the teams exchanged buckets and the lead for the next 10 minutes. A Trojan transition layup ignited a 7-2 run with just under six minutes to play.
A pair of Nari free throws and an old-fashioned 3-point play from Harper knotted the game up at 60-60 with 5:16 remaining. Colby continued to hold the momentum down the stretch, as they held off one final rally in the final minute to clinch the victory. The Knights shot 40.
3% from the field, including 15of-19 from the free throw line, while Colby finished the night shooting 39.7% the field, inc.
