LA JUNTA, COLO. – The Western Nebraska Community College men's basketball team ended their season in falling in the first-round play-in game to Otero Junior College 89-77 Saturday evening in La Junta, Colorado.

                The Cougar men competed with the Ratters for parts of the games. WNCC stormed out of the gate after the opening tip-off, leading 7-0 on a 3-pointer by Tyler Mack and buckets by Them Koang and Issad Solano.

                After that, Otero picked up the pace, going on a 13-0 run to lead 13-7 and later at 28-13. WNCC trailed at halftime 41-29.

                The second half was a different story as the Cougars stayed even with the Rattlers with each scoring 48 points. WNCC opened the second half on a 17-6 run that included scoring 10 straight that saw WNCC cut the lead to one point, 47-46 on a Koang free throw with 13:49 to play.

                WNCC never could get the lead as Otero build the lead back to 10 points at 66-55 at one time. WNCC did come back and cut the lead to seven points at 66-59. WNCC did get it cut down to single digits at 71-63 on a Chase Thompson trey, but the Rattlers went on a 13-4 run to lead 84-67 to earn the win.

                WNCC shot just 39 percent for the game and 29 percent from beyond the arc (6 of 21). Otero shot 46 percent from the field and 42 percent from behind the arc (10 of 24).

                WNCC was out-rebounded in the game 49-31, led by Koang with six boards.

                WNCC had four players in double figures. Solano led the way with 17 points followed by Chase Thompson with 16 points. Tyler Mack had 14 points including four 3-pointers while Carter Brown had 10 points.

                WNCC finishes the shortened COVID year at 8-11 that included four games that were canceled because of COVID concerns.

WNCC                   29 48 – 77

Otero                    41 48 – 89

WNCC

Chase Thompson 16, Tayler Johnson 4, Agwa Nywesh 5, Issad Solano 17, Them Koang 7, Carter Brown 10, Jasiya DeOllos 2, Tyler Mack 14, Turumbil Zaki 2.

OTERO

Amin Young 13, Tommy Kamarad 5, Tyan Stowers 12, Lonell Martin 7, Porter Anderson 12, Ezra Burnett 14, Kyrie Thomas 8, Dwayne Chester 3, Rodney Mason 4, Shawn Fudge 3, Austin Jensen 2, AC Curry 6.