NORTH PLATTE, Neb. (Interstat) — Two men’s junior college basketball teams with identical win totals but diverging momentum will meet Wednesday when the North Platte Knights host the Northeastern (Colo.) Plainsmen.

The game, scheduled for Jan. 28, 2026, at North Platte’s home venue, features a pair of teams sitting at 9 wins overall. The visiting Plainsmen hold a 9-5 record, while the Knights are 9-7.

Northeastern arrives looking to rebound from a narrow road loss, falling 71-70 at Trinidad State on Saturday. In that game, forward Trevor Thomas delivered a strong performance with 13 points and eight rebounds in 20 minutes. Thomas, a player to watch for the Plainsmen, has shown flashes of productivity, including an eight-point, two-rebound effort in a win over Southeast on Jan. 18.

The Plainsmen have been strong in close games recently, with four of their last five victories decided by five points or fewer, including a 68-67 win at Western Nebraska and a double-overtime 127-121 triumph over Casper.

North Platte also seeks to bounce back from a Saturday road defeat, an 84-67 loss at Lamar. Knights forward Winston Allen was a bright spot in that contest, matching Thomas’ recent line of 13 points and eight rebounds. Allen, the key player to watch for the Knights, has been consistently impactful, scoring in double figures in three of his last five games, including an 11-point, six-rebound effort in a 102-71 rout of Southeast on Jan. 21.

The Knights have shown a potent offense at home, averaging 92 points per game in their last three home contests, all victories.

Wednesday’s matchup will be the first of a regular-season series between the teams, with the rematch set for Feb. 18 in Colorado. Following this game, Northeastern will host McCook on Jan. 31. North Platte’s next contest is on the road at Western Nebraska on Feb. 1.