LA JUNTA, Colo. – Trent Harris finished with just seven points, but it was his 3-pointer with 15 seconds to play that helped the Western Nebraska Community College men's basketball team to a 63-60 come-from-behind win over Otero Junior College Saturday afternoon in a big Region IX South Sub-region contest.

                The win moves the Cougars to 16-9 overall but more importantly to 7-4 in the South conference, which is just one loss out of first place.

                WNCC's win was fueled by a second half where the Cougars played well. In the first half, WNCC shot just 27 percent and didn't bury a 3-pointer in trailing 30-24 at intermission.

                The second half the Cougars were down by nine points at one time. Otero started to go into a conservative offense, which allowed the Cougars to chip away at the lead. WNCC finally tied the game at 60-60 on a RJ Palmer 3-pointer with a minute to play.

                WNCC's defense stepped up big to get a huge stop and then Harris drained his only 3-pointer of the night with 15 seconds to play to put the Cougars up by three. Otero had one last second attempt, but came up short in tying the game.

                WNCC had two players in double figures. Palmer led the way with 18 points, including burying two 3-pointers and pulling down six rebounds. Jalan Brown also finished with 11 points and four rebounds.

                Marlon Sierra led the way on the glass with 10 boards. Sierra also had nine points.

                WNCC, 16-9, will be back in action Friday and Saturday when they host McCook Community College and North Platte Community College in key South Sub-region contests.

WNCC                   24 39 -- 63

Otero                    30 30 – 60

WNCC

Marlon Sierra 9, Jeremy Ruffin 6, Vinnie Shahid 2, Michael Connor, Jr. 5, Djodje Dimitrijevic 5, Trent Harris 7, RJ Palmer 18, Jalan Brown 11.