Story by NPCC Athletic Communications
Ottumwa, Iowa – North Platte Community College men's basketball fell to No. 8 Indian Hills, 79-73, Tuesday in a closely contested matchup.
John Sims IV led the Knights with 20 points, while Jordy Ndjomo Ndjomo contributed 17 points and eight rebounds. DeAndre Nichols recorded a team-high five steals for the Knights.
“Having just seven athletes available against the nation’s No. 8 team and still having a chance to win speaks volumes about our guys character and resilience,” Brandl said. “We knew rebounding would be a challenge, but we can’t give up that many boards and expect to win.”
Indian Hills opened with an 18-9 advantage before North Platte responded with an 11-point run sparked by a Sims IV 3-pointer that gave the Knights the lead. The teams traded baskets down the stretch, with Sims IV scoring a layup with one second remaining to send North Platte into halftime ahead 44-43.
The second half remained closely contested, with neither team leading by more than six points. Late in the game, the Warriors put together an 11-point run to take the lead and secure the victory.
“We need to bring the same focus and intensity we showed today into every game, especially with two quality teams awaiting us on the road this weekend,” Brandl said.
Knights (0-2) will travel to the Garden City Classic on Friday, opening tournament play against Dodge City Community College. Tip is set for 5 p.m. in Garden City, Kan.