NJC’s road struggles continue

NJC’s Road Struggles Continue

By Ken McDowell SPS

NORTH PLATTE, NEB. – The road woes continue for the Northeastern Junior College (NJC) Plainsmen basketball team. NJC traveled to North Platte, Neb. Community College Tuesday with an 0-11 road record and could not get in the win column, losing to the Knights 88-81 in the Region IX South contest. NJC falls to 8-13 overall with its fifth straight loss, 4-6 in Region IX South and 0-12 on the road in the 2015-16 season. The Plainsmen did beat North Platte at home on Dec. 2, 2015 by a 103-89 score, but fell short in Tuesday’s contest. NJC led 39-32 at halftime and after falling behind by as many as 10 points late in the game, could not get any closer than 4 points before taking the 7-point setback. Sophomore Marcus Cooper had a great game for the Plainsmen with 33 points; sophomore Robert Jones 14; sophomore J.J. Griffin 11; sophomore Garrett Baggett 9 and freshman Jalonni McCovery 6. The Plainsmen played Region IX South road games last weekend, losing at Trinidad State Friday 83-69 and at Otero Junior College Saturday in La Junta, 95-77. Friday’s game was a re-match of the Nov. 21, 2015 contest at home when NJC defeated Trinidad State 81-74. In Friday’s contest freshman Naradian James led NJC with 16 points; Cooper 14; Jones and freshman Axel Mpoyo 8 each; McCovery 7; Griffin 6; sophomore Brady Baer and Baggett 3 apiece and sophomore Eli Davis and freshman Tyree Robinson 2 each. On Saturday NJC tried to knock off the top team in Region IX South at Otero, but fell short. Otero also won the previous meeting between the 2 teams at NJC by a 109-96 score on Dec. 12, 2015. Otero is 8-0 in Region IX South. In Saturday’s game Cooper netted 21 points; Jones 14; James 10; Mpoyo 9; Griffin 8; Robinson, Baggett and Baer 4 each and McCovery 3. NJC will take on McCook, Neb. Community College tonight (Wednesday) at 7:30 p.m. in Region IX South action. Both teams met at McCook on Dec. 7, 2015 with NJC falling 93-92 in overtime. McCook is 4-4 in Region IX South and 15-5 overall. On Saturday NJC will host Air Force Prep in non-region action at 4 p.m. and on Tuesday will travel to Air Force Prep in Colorado Springs.