Texan Mosaic

The South Plains College men’s basketball team is looking for another playoff run as their successful season continues.

SPC suffered a hard-fought loss against Odessa College in over time on Jan. 28 at Texan Dome. The 65-64 loss moved the previously No. 1-ranked Texans to No. 5 in the NJCAA Division I national rankings.

With less than a minute left in regulation play, SPC trailed Odessa by six points. A crucial three-pointer from Koray Gilbert brought the Texans to within three, 56-53, with only 32 seconds left on the game clock. Following a foul by Jonah Antonio, Odessa widened the gap to 58-53 after two free throws by Adrean Johnson with only 24 seconds left.

Deon Barett hit a 3-pointer from the top of the key with just 13 seconds left in the second half, bringing SPC to within two points at 58-56. Christian Wilson fouled Johnson, who failed to connect on the free throw, allowing the Texans one last chance to take the lead.

Gaige Prim floated a hook shot into the net in the last second of the game, tying the score at 58-58 and sending the game into overtime.

SPC opened the extra period with a 4-0 run, capped by a three-pointer from Antonio, to give the Texans a 62-58 lead. Odessa answered and tied the game at 62 following a 3-pointer from Anthony Johnson with 2:20 to go. Prim knocked down a pair of free throws that put the Texans up by two at 64-62 with 1:58 to go.

Odessa’s Adrean Johnson put up a layup and drew a foul, hitting the one-and-one to put the Wranglers up 65-64 with under 20 seconds left. A last-ditch effort by Prim fell short of the basket as time expired, giving the Texans their second loss of the season in Western Junior College Athletic Conference play.   

Prim led all scorers with 24 points on 10-for-21 shooting from the floor, to go along with 13 rebounds. Dajour Joseph added 12 points off of the bench on 4-for-7 shooting from the floor.

Barett and Antonio had nine points each, Barett hit three of his seven points from the floor and was 3-for-6 from the three-point line, while Antonio was 3-for-8 from the floor and went 3-for-8 from the three-point line.

The Texans shot 41.4 percent from the floor, while out-rebounding Odessa 37-22.

SPC suffered their first loss in WJCAC play on Jan. 24, dropping a 74-72 decision, against Clarendon College in Clarendon. The Texans moved to 17-2 overall and 6-1 in WJCAC action.

Prim led all scorers with 21 points on 9-for-13 shooting from the field. He also pulled down nine rebounds. Orlina added 14 points, hitting six of his nine shots from the floor.

Antonio put up eight points and grabbed eight rebounds, while Trey Wade scored six points. Wilson grabbed nine points off of the bench.

The Texans shot 39.3 percent from the floor and 23.1 percent from the three-point line.

SPC secured an 89-66 victory against Western Texas College, improving their record to 17-1 overall and 6-0 in conference play, on Jan. 17 in Snyder.

Prim and Trey Wade each scored 23 points in the contest. Prim hit 11 of his 14 shots from the field, while Wade hit nine of his 13 shots from the field and was 2-for-4 from the three-point line. Antonio added 11 points on 4-for-9 shooting from the field and 3-for-6 shooting from the three-point line.

Charles Jennings grabbed 11 points off of the bench on 5-for-8 shooting from the floor, while Wilson added six points on 2-for-5 shooting from the floor.

The Texans shot 60 percent from the field, while holding WTC to just 45 percent. They also out-rebounded the Westerners 42-22.

SPC improved to 16-1 overall and 5-0 in the WJCAC after a 77-50 victory against New Mexico Junior College (13-5, 2-2) on Jan. 14 at Texan Dome.

Antonio led all scorers with 21 points, tossing in six of his 14 points from the field and going 6-for-10 from the three-point line. Prim finished with 18 points, shooting 7-for-8 from the field and grabbing four rebounds.

Trey Wade put up 11 points for the Texans, hitting four of his seven shots from the floor. He also picked up nine rebounds. Orlina added 10 points on 4-for-9 shooting from the field.

SPC dismantled New Mexico Military Institute 84-61 on Jan. 10 in Roswell, New Mexico. The Texans improved to 15-1 overall and 4-0 in conference play.

Barett led the scoring for the Texans with 19 points on 6-of-8 shooting from the field and 5-for-7 shooting from the three-point line. Prim recorded a double-double with 14 points and 15 rebounds.

Trey Wade recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Wade hit four of his eight shots from the field and went 4-for-6 from the three-point line. Antonio added eight points, while Gilbert added six points off of the bench.

The Texans shot 51 percent from the field and held NMMI to just 37.1 percent shooting from the field. They also out-rebounded the Broncos 35-31.

SPC came away with a 68-62 victory against Howard College on Jan. 7 at Texan Dome, securing their fourth consecutive conference win and improving to 14-1 overall and 3-0 in WJCAC play.

Orlina led the scoring for the Texans with 19 points on 50 percent shooting from the floor. He also grabbed five rebounds on the defensive end. Prim recorded a double-double with 16 points on 6-for-10 shooting to go along with 11 rebounds.

Antonio and Wade put up six and four points respectively. Gilbert and Charles Jennings added eight points off of the bench.

SPC shot 45.8 percent from the field while holding the Hawks to just 32.3 percent shooting from the field. The Texans also out-rebounded the Hawks 38-27.    

The Texans suffered their first loss of the season on Dec. 31, falling to Scottsdale Community College 88-86 in Scottsdale, Arizona.

SPC was down by two (38-40) beginning the second half. However, the Texans managed to rally and tie the game (75-75) at the end of regulation play.

The Artichokes prevailed in overtime, out-scoring SPC 13-11 and putting a stop to the Texans’ 13-game winning streak. SPC moved to 13-1 on the season.

Prim led the scoring for the Texans with 24 points on 10-for-17 shooting from the field to go along with 17 rebounds. Trey Wade netted 23 points on 10-of-18 shooting from the field to go along with six rebounds. Antonio grabbed 15 points, while Orlina put up 12 points.

SPC shot 47.8 percent from the field and grabbed a total of 41 rebounds.

The Texans posted a 72-64 victory against Seward County Community College on Dec. 29 in Mesa, Arizona.

Prim led all scorers with 23 points on 10-for-16 shooting, grabbing 10 rebounds and adding four assists. Orlina added 15 points and 11 rebounds on 5-of-11 shooting. Barett chipped in 15 points on 4-for-11 shooting, while Trey Wade put up 13 points to go along with 10 rebounds and five assists.

SPC returned to action on Jan. 31 against Midland College. Results were not available at press time.