BIG SPRING, Texas - The South Plains College Texans traveled to Howard College and won a nail biter 66-62 Thursday night in Big Spring, Texas.  The win improves South Plains to 5-2 in Western Junior College Athletic Conference action and 17-2 overall.

The Texans began the night by falling into an 8-0 hole in the first 2:15 of the game.   Ladarius Hall then converted a field goal, which was promptly answered by Howard.  Freshman Antwain Thomas pulled the Texans to within two when he made two big three pointers on consecutive trips down the court.  That was as close as the Texans would get in the first half as they went to the locker room trailing 33-28 and trailed by as many as eleven.


South Plains then came out in the second half and pulled within one point in the first five minutes of play.  However, it would be at the 11:00 mark of the second half when the Texans took their first lead of the game, 41-40, on a field goal by David Tairu.  Hugh Mingo and Bo Ingram then made three point shots to extend the Texan lead to seven with 8:27 left on the clock.  The Texans would eventually stretch their lead to as many as thirteen points with less than two minutes to go in the game.  Howard College then imposed a scrappy full-court defense that South Plains had trouble handling and were able to narrow the gap to four points with eighteen seconds left on the clock.  With little time and needing two possessions to tie or take the lead, Howard was forced to foul Landon Tatum, who nailed two clutch free throws with fifteen seconds.  Howard's Latrail McCoy nailed a three on the other end of the court to bring his team within three with only eight seconds left.  Hugh Mingo was then fouled promptly after receiving the inbounds pass and converted one of two, icing the game.

Hugh Mingo led the Texans in scoring with 21 points on 7 of 11 shooting from the field, which includes 4 of 5 from three point land.  David Tairu added 14 points, five rebounds and four assists, while freshman Bo Ingram just missed a double-double with 10 points and eight rebounds.

The Texans return to action on Monday, January 26 when they travel to Hobbs, New Mexico to face New Mexico Junior College.  South Plains and New Mexico are scheduled to tip at 7:30 p.m. (MST) and the game will be aired live on KLVT 1230 AM and www.hprnetwork.com.