This past Monday, the South Plains College Texans and Lady Texans basketball teams both squared off against each respective New Mexico Junior College team, with the Texans winning 8782 and the Lady Texans losing 81-74.
In the Texans win over the Thunderbirds, they outscored them 48-30 in the first half, and despite being outscored by 13 in the second half, they were able to hold on to secure the win.
As a team, the Texans outshot NMJC 50% to 39% from the field and 33% to 30% from three, and while NMJC did outshoot them 72% to 68% from the free throw line, the Texans made 12 more free throws.
Even though NMJC won the rebound, assist and second chance points battles, the Texans efficient shooting and free throws made would be difference in the win.
Standouts in the win included Antallah Sandlin’el with 23 points on 9/10 shooting from the field, going 2/3 from three and ¾ from the free throw line, adding seven rebounds, Zion Pipkin with 16 points on 4/7 shooting, going 3/5 from three and 5/6 from the free throw line, adding three steals and two rebounds, and Alexandre K’Medehouto with 11 points on 5/5 shooting, six rebounds and an assist.
Following their third consecutive win, the Texans improved to 14-4 overall and 3-2 in conference play, and they jumped from #18 to #12 in the NJCAA Division 1 Men’s Basketball Rankings.
In the Lady Texans matchup against NMJC, it was simply an off shooting night that led to the loss. NMJC outshot them 49% to 36% from the field, 33% to 28% from three and 72% to 40% from the free throw line.
The Lady Texans dominated the boards, outrebounding them 46-34, which would lead to the Lady Texans getting off 16 more total shots and scoring 25 second chance points, but their shooting inefficiency was too much to overcome.
The final key team stat would be turnovers, which NMJC closely won by forcing three more, but they would outscore the Lady Texans 21-10 in points off turnovers.
Standouts in the loss included Isabel Joao with 16 points, 13 rebounds and four assists, Angelina Joao with 16 points on 7/13 shooting with two three-pointers made, five rebounds, three steals and an assist, and Milani Smith with 15 points behind three three-pointers made, six rebounds, a steal and an assist.
Following the loss, the Lady Texans drop to 15-2 overall and 3-1 in conference play, also dropping from #1 to #5 in the NJCAA Division 1 Women’s Basketball Rankings.
Both teams are back in action on Monday night for conference matchups against Western Texas College in the Texan Dome. The women’s game is at 5:45 p.m. and the men’s game is at 7:30 p.m.