In its season debut on Monday, the North Platte Community College mens' basketball team showed flashes of brilliance en route to a 68-51 win over the Hastings College junior varsity at the McDonald-Belton Gymnasium.

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NPCC got off to a decent start by pulling ahead 7-2 when Tim Simmons made a three-pointer a little over three minutes into the game.

Hastings came back to tie at 15 all with a three by Aaron Reyes. But the Knights distanced themselves over the course of the next minute plus with another three by Simmons and a layup by Ethan Montalvo for a five-point lead.

Simmons then followed with a pair of layups to end the 9-0 run for the Knights.

Hastings went on a six-point run toward the end of the first half before Bouba Casse made a three in the closing seconds to give NPCC a halftime lead of 29-23.

The Knights took it to the Broncos in the opening minutes of the second half. Eric Richardson scored on a tip-in on NPCC's opening possession. Then Damon Brown made a steal in the backcourt to put NPCC up by 10.

Simmons and Montalvo then followed Brown's lead and scored the next two baskets on easy layups after they stole the ball.

The Knights' led by as much as 19 before Hastings cut the lead to 11. But NPCC held off the Broncos to win their first game of the season.

Hastings JV 51

North Platte CC 68

Halftime: Hastings JV 23, North Platte CC 29

Hastings JV (51)-Aaron Reyes 12, Garth Walbridge 2, Brandon Krause 14, Matt Nelson 15, Derek Kissinger 3, Justin Clavenger 3, Matt Robinson 2

North Platte CC (68)-Robert Lewis 4, Damon Brown 11, Ethan Montalvo 11, Ben Wilson 4, Bouba Casse 5, Jake Maslo 5, Reath Jiech 2, Eric Richardson 6, Matt Strybos 2, Tim Simmons 17, Jimma Lew 3

Free Throws: HC 6-8, NPCC 3-8; Three Point Goals: HC 7 (Reyes 3, Nelson 3, Kissinger), NPCC 7 (Simmons 3, Brown, Montalvo, Casse, Lew); Rebounds: HC 34 (Krause 9), NPCC 43 (Richardson 10); Turnovers: HC 21, NPCC 14