Second-Half Rally Falls Short as Northeastern Plainsmen Drop 69-59 Decision at Lamar

Lamar, Colo. — A furious second-half rally brought Northeastern Junior College back within striking distance, but an early hole proved too deep in a 79-69 loss to Lamar Community College on Sunday in Region IX South play.

After the Plainsmen grabbed a 15-13 edge midway through the first half, Lamar seized control with a decisive surge before the break. The Runnin’ Lopes closed the half on a 28-6 run, turning a two-point deficit into a 41-19 halftime lead and putting Northeastern in chase mode the rest of the night.

Northeastern responded after the break with one of its most determined stretches of the game. Guard Jakobe Jones provided a key spark in the game, knocking down four 3 pointers.

The Plainsmen continued to chip away throughout the second half, trimming the deficit to single digits in the closing minutes. Northeastern repeatedly forced tough shots and limited second-chance opportunities, but Lamar answered just enough at the free-throw line and in late-clock situations to hold off the comeback bid. The combination of the first-half scoring drought and Lamar’s efficiency at the stripe in the final minutes ultimately kept the Plainsmen from getting over the hump.

Ethan Carter led Northeastern with a standout all-around performance, finishing with 26 points and eight rebounds to anchor the offense and the team’s second-half push. Brady Greene gave the Plainsmen another solid effort off the bench, contributing 14 points and four rebounds as Northeastern battled back into contention after halftime.

Despite the loss, the Plainsmen showed resilience in turning a 22-point halftime deficit into a competitive finish on the road. Northeastern now sits at 16-9 overall and 8-3 in Region IX South play, remaining firmly in the hunt near the top of the standings as the schedule moves deeper into February.

Northeastern will look to build on its second-half effort and tighten early-game execution as it returns to league action, aiming to translate Sunday’s late surge into a full 40-minute performance down the stretch of the regular season.