Posted: Feb 18, 2016

Plainsmen unable to duplicate comeback at Western Nebraska

By Ken McDowell SPS

SCOTTSBLUFF – On Jan. 8 the Northeastern Junior College (NJC) Plainsmen hosted the Western Nebraska Community College (WNCC) Cougars and came from behind in the final minute for a 90-89 victory.

On Tuesday both teams met at WNCC in Scottsbluff, Neb. in a big Region IX South game but NJC could not duplicate a comeback this time, falling by a 97-90 margin.

NJC stands at 10-15 overall and 6-7 in Region IX South while WNCC improves to 16-10 and 5-8.

NJC trailed by as many as 13 points in the first half before a trey by freshman Jalonni McCorvey tied the game at 39-39. NJC was behind 44-41 in the final seconds of the first half when sophomore Brady Baer canned a trey at the horn to knot the score at 44-44 at the intermission.

NJC fell behind by as many as 9 points in the second half and could never catch up, dropping the Region IX South game.

NJC did place 5 players in double figures, led by sophomore Marcus Cooper with 21 points; sophomore Robert Jones 15; McCovery and Baer 12 each and freshman Naradian James 10.

Sophomore J.J. Griffin followed with 9 points; sophomore Garrett Baggett 7 and freshman Axel Mpoyo 4.

On Saturday during Hoops Homecoming NJC hosted Lamar Community College in the first meeting of the season between the 2 Region IX South teams, NJC pulled out a thrilling 80-78 victory in overtime after both teams were knotted at 71-71 at the end of regulation.

Cooper led NJC with 19 points; Mpoyo 17; Jones 15; Baer 10; James 9; McCorvey 8 and Griffin 2.

NJC will play at Eastern Wyoming College (EWC) Friday in Region IX South action. The Plainsmen hosted EWC Jan. 9 and won 76-64.

The next home game for NJC is Wednesday against Northwest Kansas Technical College at 7:30 p.m