Texan Mosaic

by NICK ALVARADO//Sports Editor

The South Plains College men’s basketball team continues to blow out opponents as conference play has officially kicked off.

With the first game of Western Junior College Athletic Conference play, the fifth-ranked Texans had yet to be tested coming into the game against Midland College.

That would soon change.

The Texans took a 43-34 lead at the halftime break and used the offense to get past the upset-minded Chaps, 81-65.

Texas Tech signee Jordan Brangers led all scorers with 19 points while shooting 47 percent from the floor. Sophomore Josh Webster chipped in 16 points, six assists and went eight-for-nine from the free-throw line. Other Texans in double figures included Roberto Gallinat with 12 points and Shawntrez Davis with 10 points and seven rebounds.

The Texans overcame a slow start and showcased their defense alongside unselfish play in a 105-71 victory against Murray State College (Okla.) on Nov. 26 in the final game of the Collin County tournament.

Leading the way was Brangers, who pitched in 21 points and five rebounds. Raquan Mitchell came off the bench to score 20 points and grabbed five rebounds. Gallinat also finished in double figures with 18 points, while Jahlil Tripp added 15 points. Murray State College’s Enis Memic led all scorers with 26 points, along with 10 boards and shooting 11-for-16 from the field.

In the opening game of the Collin County tournament, the Texans posted a 124-81 victory against Bossier Parish Community College. The key to the victory was the shooting early on for SPC, as the Texans went 23-for-45 from the field in the first half.

Brangers, who shot 12-for-20 from the field, pitched in a season-high 35 points and shot 75 percent from the free-throw line. Davis came off the bench to chip in 19 points and shot 89 percent from the free-throw line.  Justice Green also came off the bench to finish with 12 points. Josh Webster and Grantham Gillard scored 10.

Before traveling to McKinney for the Collin County tournament, the Texans faced off against Coastal Bend College on Nov. 19 at Texan Dome in the final game of the Texan Classic. It was more of the same, with the Texans posting a 91-63 blowout victory against the Cougars.

Leading the way for the Texans was Mitchell with 19 points. Brangers was close behind with 17 points. Tripp finished with 14 points and nine rebounds, while Gillard was close behind with 13 points.

The first game of the Texan Classic for the Texans was against Region V rival, Collin County. Brangers continued to be a threat from the floor, pitching in 28 points while shooting 10-for-21 from the field in a 113-75 rout of Collin County.

Brangers’ performance led all scorers. Green chipped in 23 points and three rebounds, while shooting five-for-eight from the field. Gallinat was the highest scoring starter for the Texans with 15 points. Tripp finished with 12 points and eight rebounds.

In a battle of past unbeatens, SPC routed Northwest Kansas Tech, 99-58, on Nov. 15. The Texans ended the first half on a 15-0 run to lead 50-19. Brangers led all scorers at the end of the first half with 13 points, with Gillard pitching in 10. The second half was more of the same, as SPC started with four consecutive three-point shots made to take off on a 12-0 run early. The Mavericks were unable to put together a comeback as the Texans stretched the winning streak to four games with a 99-58 victory.

Leading the way for the Texans was Brangers with 24 points. Gillard finished with 17 points, shooting 75 percent from behind the three-point arc. Gallinat contributed 13 points, while Mitchell chipped in 11 points. Webster and Green added 10 points each.

As of Nov. 30, Midland College is the only team to come within 20 points of the Texans. Before then, the closest margin of victory was 28 points, when the Texans faced Navarro College on Nov. 5 and Coastal Bend College on Nov. 19 as part of the Texan Classic.

The Texans hosted the Plainsmen of Frank Phillips College in the conference home opener at Texan Dome on Dec. 3. Results were not available at press time.