North Platte – The No. 25 North Platte Community College men’s basketball team (7-0) opens Region IX play this Friday and Saturday as they host the Otero Junior College Rattlers (6-2) and the Trinidad State Junior College Trojans (5-3).

The Knights first host Otero Junior College on Friday Nov. 22 at 7:30 p.m. at McDonald-Belton Gymnasium. The Knights played the Rattlers three times last year including a victory over Otero in the Region IX Championship game to qualify for the NJCAA National Tournament.

The Rattlers are led by sophomore Chris Golden who is averaging 18.7 points per game and sophomore Jalen Little who leads the nation in assists at 9.2 per game. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN Radio 1410 and will be available online. The men’s game will follow the women’s game with Northwest Kansas Technical College which tips at 5:30 p.m.

On Saturday the Knights return to action at 2 p.m. against Trinidad State Junior College at McDonald-Belton Gymnasium. The Trojans are led by freshman Joe Smith with 18.1 points per game and brothers Richard (12.9 ppg, 6.4 rpg) and Keouvion McCalop (11.0 ppg, 5.4 rpg).

The Knights are then off until after the Thanksgiving break when they travel to face the Hastings College JV on Dec. 3 at 7:30 p.m. The Knights host Region IX opponents Lamar Community College on Dec. 7 and Northeastern Junior College on Dec. 11 before Christmas break.