A decisive second-half scoring drought turned a close contest into a 70-59 defeat for the Otero College men’s basketball team against Northeastern on Friday night in La Junta.
In a physical, defense-minded matchup, Otero controlled much of the first half and took a 39-35 lead into halftime behind strong play from freshmen Bertran Walthour Jr. and Kaylan Graham. The Rattlers led for 15 of the opening 20 minutes and built their largest advantage of 10 points with 9 minutes left in the half, when Walthour scored on a post hook and then buried a quick 3-pointer on consecutive possessions.
Momentum shifted after the break. Northeastern opened the second half by grinding its way back and briefly moved in front 41-40 at the 17-minute mark. Otero reclaimed the lead 46-45 when Graham connected on a free throw with 12:09 to play, but that edge was short-lived as Northeastern seized control with the game’s defining run.
From that point, Northeastern strung together a 10-0 surge, fueled by three consecutive 3-pointers, to go ahead 55-46 with 8:59 remaining. That burst effectively decided the low-scoring contest, as Otero managed only eight points over the final 12 minutes. Despite generating extra possessions, the Rattlers could not convert enough of them into points down the stretch.
Walthour led Otero with 19 points, 6 rebounds and 2 steals, setting the tone early with his first-half scoring flurry that helped establish the double-digit cushion. Graham added 16 points, 7 rebounds and 2 steals on the wing, providing energy on both ends and contributing key buckets in a tightly contested second half before the Northeastern run.
Otero’s effort on the glass was a bright spot. The Rattlers won the rebounding battle 39-28, including an 18-10 edge on the offensive boards, reflecting their physicality and commitment to the glass. However, those extra chances were offset by shooting struggles, as Otero finished 33.3% from the field and 23% from 3-point range. Northeastern countered with more efficient shooting, hitting 46% from the floor and 39% from beyond the arc, with the three straight triples in the second half underscoring that advantage.
Despite the loss, the performance of Otero’s freshmen and the team’s dominance on the boards provided encouraging signs. Otero continues conference play Saturday the 24th with a contest versus Western Nebraska.
