North Platte – The North Platte Community College Knights basketball team was defeated by the Otero Junior College Rattlers, 94-82, on Saturday afternoon at the McDonald – Belton Gymnasium in Region IX South Sub-Region play.

After a three-pointer by Aaron Ridley for the Knights, the Rattlers went on a 16-5 run to take control of the game.

The Rattlers shot 58.1 percent from the field in the first half and went 7 for 14 from behind the three-point line in the first half to take a halftime lead of 50-37. The Knights shot 36.8 percent from the field and made five of 14 three pointers.

In the second half, the Knights shooting improved. They shot 51.9 percent and went 8 for 16 from the three-point range. The Rattlers continued their sharp shooting, hitting 50 percent from the field in the second half. The Rattlers shot 54.2 percent for the game.

The Knights are 9-11 on the season and 5-7 in South Sub-Region play. T.J. Stanford came off the bench and scored 20 points to lead the Knights. Three other Knights scored in double figures. Godfrey Rolle finished with 18 points, Trajan Harris added 15 points and Atem Ajang had 10 points. Stanford, Rolle, and Jakub Karwowski each had four rebounds for the Knights.

The Rattlers improve to 20-3 on the year and 9-2 in the South Sub-Region. They are currently in second place in the sub-region behind Western Nebraska Community College. The Rattlers had four players in double figures. Jarvae Robinson and Jonathan Scott each had 17 points. Chudier Bile and Josh McNair both had 13 points. Scott and Sekou Cisse each had five rebounds.

The Knights are in action next on Friday, Feb 9 when they play Central Community College in Columbus in a Nebraska Community College Athletic Conference game.