Texans knock off Cape Fear 93-81 to advance to NJCAA Tournament second round

HUTCHINSON, Kan. – The ninth-seeded South Plains College Texans knocked off No. 24-seed Cape Fear Community College 93-81 during Monday's opening round action at the NJCAA National Basketball Tournament at the Hutchinson Sports Center and will now face eight-seed Paris JC at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 18.

South Plains (28-5) had six players score in double figures against the Seadevils, led byRoderick Lawrence with 17.  Billydee Williams and Clayton Jones came up big off the bench with 16 and 15 points. 

Jones finished the game 3-of-5 from downtown, hitting his 3s in seemingly timely fashion to give the Texans the cushion they needed. 

South Plains led 45-38 at intermission, but the Seadevils got to within 68-65 before the Texans went on a run late in the game. 

"They did exactly what has been our Achilles heel all season long and that's defensive transition," Texan head coach Steve Green said following the game.  "We don't get back very well and they ran it right down our throats. 

"I thought they had a great plan against us." 

Both teams shot it well for the contest.  South Plains made 32-of-61 (.525), while Cape Fear shot just under 50-percent.  The Seadevils were red-hot from beyond the 3-point line, though, making 10-of-18. 

"That basket opened up, it looked like the Suez Canal to them," Green said.  "They just kept dropping them in.  They hit some really impressive shots." 

Looking at the box score after the game, Green acknowledged the closeness of the contest. 

"Look at this statistically and I don't see where we won.  I think we are very very lucky, very fortunate today." 

Tuesday's game will be a rematch of an early season contest the Texans won over the Dragons 79-75 Nov. 2 in Plano. 

Live video of South Plains' Tuesday game – as well as every game of the NJCAA National Tournament – can be viewed at www.njcaatv.com.  

South Plains (28-5)
Andre Spight 4-11 1-2 10, Billydee Williams 6-9 0-0 16, Sekou Harris 2-6 2-2 7, Malik Nichols 0-0 0-0 0, Clayton Jones 3-5 6-6 15, Emmanuel Omogbo 4-4 2-2 10, Roderick Lawrence 7-13 2-3 17, Cedrick McAfee 0-0 0-0 0, Ryan Martin 1-3 4-4 6, Michael Karena5-10 2-2 12, Pedro Konofino 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 32-61 19-21 93

Cape Fear (19-14)
Aaron Thomas 2-3 0-0 4, Demetres Abrams 5-5 2-2 16, Phil Wallace 0-2 0-0 0, Cordea Wilson 5-10 4-4 17, Anthony Vanhook 7-17 7-7 21, DeMarcus Sanford 2-4 0-0 4, Osandai Vaughn 2-8 5-5 9, JT Murphy 3-7 1-2 10, Rob Folk 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 26-56 19-20 81

FG%: South Plains .525, Cape Fear .464. 3-pt FG:South Plains 10-25 (Spight 1-5, Williams 4-6, Harris 1-3, Jones 3-5, Lawrence 1-6), Cape Fear 10-18 (Abrams 4-4, Wallace 0-2, Wilson 3-5, Vanhook 0-1, Sanford 0-1, Vaughn 0-1, Murphy 3-4). Rebounds: South Plains 33 (Lawrence 7), Cape Fear 28 (Vanhook 5, Vaughn 5, Murphy 5). Fouls South Plains 23, Cape Fear 18. Fouled out: Vanhook . Technical: none. Assists: South Plains 16 (Harris 6), Cape Fear 17 (Wallace 7). Steals: South Plains 8 (Spight 4), Cape Fear 8 (Sanford 2). Blocked shots: South Plains 2 (Williams 2), Cape Fear 0. Turnovers: South Plains 16, Cape Fear 20.