Top-ranked Texans tripped up by Odessa College Wranglers

ODESSA, Texas – The South Plains College Texans did not end the first half of conference play the way they had hoped as they fell for the first time in Western Junior College Athletic Conference (WJCAC) play Monday night, 76-56, to No. 16-ranked Odessa College.

South Plains (20-2, 7-1) remains alone atop the standings, however, and will begin the back half of their season when they return to action Monday, Feb. 3 against Western Texas College in Snyder. 

The Texans fell behind early as Odessa scored the first seven points of the game.  It took South Plains more than six minutes to convert a field goal as they received their first six points at the free throw line. 

SPC's first field goal of the game, a 3 by Andre Spight, got the Texans back to within five.  Spight would go on to hit three more 3s over the next five minutes with his final bucket giving the Texans their first lead of the game, 21-20. 

Trailing 29-25, Cedrick McAfee hit a three fresh off the bench that began a 6-0 run that also included a free throw by Spight and a basket by Sekou Harris.  

With just over two minutes to go and the game tied up, Clayton Jones made two free throws to put the Texans up two and Ryan Martin gave the Texans a three-point advantage by knocking down 1-of-2 with 30 seconds left in the half. 

It looked like the Texans would head to the locker room with that three-point advantage, but Odessa's Kevin Scott converted a 3 at the buzzer to tie the game at 34. 

Odessa again started fast in the second half as they built a 10-point lead in the opening minutes.  

The Texans were able to cut their deficit to six at the midway point, but a 10-3 Wrangler run gave Odessa control and the game and they never looked back as they handed South Plains their only conference loss of the season. 

Odessa (17-3, 5-2) will complete the first half of their conference schedule Thursday, Jan. 30 when they host Clarendon. 

The Texans still hold a one game advantage over Howard and, currently, one-and-a-half games over Odessa as they take a week to regroup before playing Western Texas.  

South Plains will complete a three game road trip with what could be a battle for the conference lead when they travel to Big Spring for a matchup with Howard Feb. 6. 

WJCAC Scores:  Odessa 76, South Plains 56; Howard 73, Western Texas 66; Frank Phillips 68, NMMI 67; New Mexico 58, Clarendon 51.

South Plains (20-2, 7-1)
Andre Spight 5-13 1-3 15, Billydee Williams 1-11 2-3 5, Sekou Harris 2-3 4-5 8, Malik Nichols 0-1 0-0 0, Clayton Jones 1-4 2-2 5, Emmanuel Omogbo 1-4 2-2 4, Roderick Lawrence 2-13 1-3 6, Cedrick McAfee 1-1 0-0 3, Ryan Martin 4-9 2-4 10, Michael Karena0-0 0-0 0. Totals 17-59 14-22 56

Odessa College (17-3, 5-2)
Josh Gray 10-24 6-9 29, Zeldric King 5-7 0-0 10, Demitrius Martin 0-0 0-0 0, Kevin Mays 5-10 3-4 13, Kevin Scott 5-11 1-2 14, Demetrius Thomas 2-5 1-1 5, Isiah Jones 1-4 0-0 3, Derrick Taylor 0-0 0-0 0, Chaunce Hill 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 29-64 11-16 76

FG%: South Plains .288, Odessa College .453. 3-pt FG:South Plains 8-31 (Spight 4-9, Williams 1-9, Harris 0-1, Jones 1-2, Omogbo 0-1, Lawrence 1-8, McAfee 1-1), Odessa College 7-18 (Gray 3-7, King 0-1, Mays 0-1, Scott 3-4, Thomas 0-1, Jones 1-4). Rebounds: South Plains 30 (Williams 9), Odessa College 42 (Mays 12). Fouls South Plains 14, Odessa College 15. Fouled out: none. Technical: none. Assists: South Plains 6 (Spight 2, Jones 2), Odessa College 14 (Gray 3, Mays 3, Jones 3). Steals: South Plains 4 (Williams 1, Harris 1, Lawrence 1, McAfee 1), Odessa College 6 (Gray 3). Blocked shots: South Plains 4 (Lawrence 2), Odessa College 5 (King 2, Mays 2). Turnovers: South Plains 18, Odessa College 17.