LAJUNTA, Colo. – The Western Nebraska Community College men's basketball team almost pulled off a last-second win Saturday afternoon against Otero College.

                The Cougars, who trailed by 11 points with a little over five minutes to play, came roaring back in going on a 14-5 run to make it a 2-point contest with 47.9 seconds to play. In the end, Otero hit a couple clutch free throws to earn the 84-82 South Sub-region win.

                WNCC, falls to 1-4 in the South Conference while Otero goes to 1-3. The Cougars will have a key South Sub-region contest Wednesday at McCook Community College before returning home to face North Platte Community College on Sunday, February 1.

                Saturday's contest was one where the Cougars allowed Otero a couple mini runs to get back into the game.

                WNCC started out strong as they built a 28-20 lead in the first half on a Noah Jones 3-pointer. Otero came back to grab a 38-32 lead on three 3-pointers. The Cougars went on a mini-run of their own as Melchi Egbeyemi scored eight straight points for a 40-38 lead. Otero scored the final five points of the half for the 43-40 halftime lead.

                The second half was a "let's trade baskets" early show as the two teams were knotted three times. Otero took a 9-point lead with 12 minutes to play on a banked 3-pointer. WNCC battled back to make it a 65-61 lead on five points from Viktor Lukic-Gavric. That was when Otero went on an 11-4 run to lead 76-65.

                Otero led 81-73 with three minutes to play. That was when the Cougars kicked it into high gear and went on a 6-0 run to make it an 81-79 contest with 47.9 seconds to play. Otero hit one free throw for a 3-point lead. WNCC had a couple chances to tie the game, but turned the ball over with 14.1 seconds to play. Otero made one free throw and then WNCC missed a 3-pointer with six seconds to play. Otero hit a free throw with 3.7 seconds for an 84-79 lead. Lukic-Gavric buried a just-inside-the-halfcourt-line" just before the buzzer to make it an 84-82 score.

                WNCC shot 41 percent from the field while Otero was 50 percent. WNCC connected on just 28 percent of their 3-pointers (10-of-36) while Otero was 46 percent with 12 made triples.

                WNCC finished with four players in double figures and another three that had nine points. Egbeyemi tallied 15 points followed by 12 points each from Lukic-Gavric and Toms Linis. Xavier Kirkpatrick had 10 points. Noah Jones, Kellon Harris, and Amare Jackson all had nine points.

WNCC (5-15)                 40 42 – 82
Otero (2-16)                  43 41 – 84
WNCC
Melchi Egbeyemi 15, Viktor Lukic-Gavric 12, Toms Linis 12, Xavier Kirkpatrick 10, Noah Jones 9, Kellon Harris 9, Amare Jackson 9, Isaiah St. Preux 5, Dorin Nguema 1.
OTERO
Marquise Allen 18, Kaylan Graham 16, Bertran Walthour 12, Nedum Chladika 10, Jayson Lewis 7, Sam Webb 6, Tamir Anderson 6, Jye Barlow 4, Cole Corner 3, Lukas Glasgow 2.