Texans advance to Region 5 semis with 85-72 victory over Collin County

LUBBOCK – The South Plains College Texans received double digit scoring from five players in what was a total team effort that led to an 85-72 victory in the opening round of the Region 5 Tournament Wednesday evening at the Rip Griffin Center on the campus of Lubbock Christian University. 

South Plains (27-4) advances to the semifinal round and will play Hill College (24-7) Friday at 2 p.m.

Freshman Emmanuel Omogbo came off the bench to score a team high 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting for the WJCAC champion Texans.  Sophomore Roderick Lawrence also had an efficient night, shooting 6-of-8 from the field and finishing with 15 points.  

Andre Spight and Michael Karena each scored 11, while Billydee Williams chipped in with 10. 

Spight had an all-around game with seven assists, six steals, and six rebounds.  Point guardSekou Harris added eight points and also dished out a season high 10 assists. 

The Texans knocked off Collin County for the third time this season.  South Plains trailed at halftime in each of their early season games with Collin in what were tightly contested games. 

South Plains built a 13-point halftime lead Wednesday night and never relinquished their double-digit lead in the second half. 

Three of the four teams that survived first round action are members of the Western Junior College Athletic Conference.  Hill knocked off Western Texas 77-70 in the second game of the day.  That contest was tied at 70 with only two minutes remaining before Hill finished the game on a 7-0 run. 

Howard and New Mexico will square off in the first semifinal game scheduled for Friday at 12 p.m. 

Every game of the Region 5 Tournament features live stats and video and links can be found at www.njcaaregion5.com.  

KLVT Radio 1230 AM in Levelland will carry South Plains' games over the air.