Preview of Men’s Junior College Basketball: Western Nebraska at Otero

LA JUNTA, Colo. (Interstat) — Two teams seeking to end prolonged slides will meet Saturday when the Western Nebraska Cougars visit the Otero College Rattlers in a men’s junior college basketball game.

Western Nebraska (4-15) enters on a five-game losing streak, though several defeats have been narrow. The Cougars fell 87-84 to Southeast Community College last Saturday and have lost four of their last five games by four points or fewer.

The Cougars are led by forward Kellon Harris, who is coming off a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double in the loss to Southeast. Over his last six games, Harris is averaging 18.2 points and 6.3 rebounds per contest, including a 30-point outing in a win over Casper College on Jan. 7.

Otero (1-13) has lost three straight since its lone victory of the season, a 74-59 win over Western Wyoming on Jan. 5. The Rattlers are coming off a 94-69 road loss to North Platte Community College last Saturday.

Forward Bertran Walthour Jr. has been a bright spot for Otero. He scored 17 points and grabbed nine rebounds against North Platte and is averaging 13.5 points and 6.0 rebounds over his last two games where he saw significant minutes.

Both teams have struggled defensively this season. Western Nebraska has allowed an average of 86.2 points per game during its current five-game skid. Otero has surrendered 100 or more points in four of its 14 games this season.

According to Interstat’s game simulator, this contest is projected to be a high-scoring affair, ending in a 100-100 tie.

The game is scheduled for a 4 p.m. MST tip-off at the McDivitt Center Gymnasium. It will be the first of two meetings between the teams this season; they are scheduled to play again in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, on Thursday, Feb. 5.

For Western Nebraska, this begins a stretch of three road games in four contests. Otero will continue a four-game homestand with games against Southeast and Lamar next weekend.