Northeastern Basketball Struggles Against Otero’s Drives

Feb. 24, 2019, Sterling, Colo. — In Northeastern's final Region IX divisional game, the Plainsmen host the Otero Junior College Rattlers. When these two matched up in La Junta, Colo., the Plainsmen committed too many turnovers in their 100-83 loss to the Rattlers. Northeastern has tightened up their game since they met in late January, and competing at home played in the Plainsmen's favor. 

The first 10 minutes of the game, the teams went back and forth in scoring with neither team gaining an advantage. With the game tied at 30, Otero forced the Plainsmen into quick shots, allowing them to go up 36-30 with five minutes left in the first. The Plainsmen turned around and got some stops themselves and made it a 41-40 game with 2:30 to play in the first. At half, Northeastern trailed 48-40 to Otero. To be successful in the second half, Northeastern had to stop Otero's drives and convert offensively. 

To begin the second half, Otero got layups and drew the Plainsmen into fouls. After the first five minutes passed, Northeastern deficit grew with the score now reading 64-52. The next eight minutes consisted of the Plainsmen and the Rattlers exchanging points, with Northeastern never getting within 10 points of Otero. At the 7:10 mark, Terae Johnson made a layup to bring it to an eight point game, 81-73. In the final four minutes of the game, Northeastern struggled to regain the points they trailed and fell 97-88 to the Rattlers. 

The Plainsmen will have one more home game on Tuesday, Feb. 26 at 6 p.m. as they host Lamar JV for sophomore night.