Texans set to return to action Friday against CSI at 2019 Fiesta Bowl Junior College Shootout

LEVELLAND — Coming off the Christmas break the South Plains College men's basketball team will return to the hardwood on Friday, Dec. 27 against College of Southern Idaho at 4 p.m. MST in their opening-round matchup at the 2019 Fiesta Bowl Junior College Shootout on the campus of Mesa Community College in Mesa, Arizona.

The Texans have won the Fiesta Bowl Junior College Shootout two of the past three years as they look to take down CSI in a rematch of the 2018 national title game in which the Texans outlasted the Golden Eagles 98-95 to capture the program's third national crown.

Currently 7-4 on the year, the Texans defeated #11 Western Texas College 62-61 in their last outing on Dec. 7 behind Rivaldo Soare's 16 points and eight boards. Should the Texans win on Friday, they will take on the winner of Triton vs. Seward County who tip off at 2 p.m. MST in the tournament opener.

Averaging 76.8 points per game and shooting 43.9 percent from the floor, the Texans are led by Soares, a 6-foot-7 freshman from Boston who is averaging 14.1 points per game and shooting 45.6 percent from the field. Freshman Benjamin Bayela is second in scoring for South Plains, netting 12.5 points per game and has scored in double figures in five of his last six outings.

CSI brings a 9-6 record into the contest, averaging 80.9 points per game and shooting a 45 percent clip from the floor. The Golden Eagles are led by sophomore guard Mike Hood who leads the team in scoring with 21.9 points per game and is shooting 46.5 percent on the year.

The entire tournament will stream live at spctexans.com and can be accessed by using the 'Watch Games' tab at the top of the homepage. The full tournament bracket can be found below:

Home teams listed first:

 Dec. 27 - First Day

 2:00 - Game 1 – Triton vs. Seward Co.                           

 4:00 - Game 2 – South Plains vs. Southern Idaho          

 6:00 - Game 3 - Mesa vs. New Mexico                           

 8:00 - Game 4 – Salt Lake vs. Midland                          

Dec. 28 Second Day

 2:00 – Game 5 - Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2                           

 4:00 - Game 6 – Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4                          

 6:00 - Game 8 – Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4                     

 8:00 - Game 7 – Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2                       

 Dec. 29 Third Day

 2:00 - Game 9 -  7th Place - Loser Game 5 vs. Loser Game 6                                    

 4:00 - Game 11 - 3rd Place  Loser Game 7 vs. Loser Game 8                                    

 6:00 - Game 10 - Consolation Championship    Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6    

 8:00 - Game 12 - Championship – Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8