Second-ranked Texans too much for Frank Phillips down the stretch

BORGER, Texas – Ryan Martin scored a game high 25 points, Andre Spight added 20 and the South Plains College Texans held on to defeat the Frank Phillips College Plainsmen 90-82 Monday night at the Borger Community Activity Center. 

Billydee Williams came off the bench to chip in with 16 for the Texans who remain undefeated in league play.

This was yet another hard fought victory for the second-ranked Texans. 

The first half featured six tie scores and no team led by more than the seven-point advantage South Plains held just past the eight-minute mark following two free throw conversions by Martin. 

That lead was short lived as the Plainsmen went on a 12-0 scoring run thanks to four consecutive 3s, three of which were made by FPC's Chris Hall, giving Frank Phillips a 35-30 advantage. 

Cedrick McAfee stopped the bleeding with a field goal conversion and Martin followed two more free throws up with a put back in the paint to help the Texans reclaim the lead, 36-35. 

Frank Phillips would surge to a 39-36 lead, but Williams made 3-of-4 from the foul line down the stretch and the two teams went to the locker room all knotted up at 39. 

As the second half neared its midway point, the game remained far from decided with the teams sharing their ninth tie of the game, 50-50.  Soon after, the Texans were able to separate with an 18-6 run that gave them a 12-point lead with only 4:42 remaining. 

South Plains appeared to have the game well in hand, holding a double-digit lead with the clock winding down. 

Frank Phillips got a big 3 from Quame Edwards with just over a minute remaining and the Texans turned it back over to the Plainsmen following a timeout where Edwards converted another bucket that cut the Texan lead to six, 79-73. 

Martin, who finished the game 12-of-13 from the foul line and six-of-six in the final minute, helped the Texans extend their lead back to nine. 

Darrell Robinson hit two free throws after Clayton Jones sent him to the line and Hall cut his team's deficit back to four following another Texan turnover. 

Martin pushed the Texan advantage back to six and following a missed attempt, Frank Phillips was forced to foul and the Texans made 5-of-6 to end the game and claim the eight-point victory. 

With the win, the Texans improve to 19-1 overall and remain undefeated in league play with a 6-0 record in the Western Junior College Athletic Conference (WJCAC).  Frank Phillips falls to 12-7 and 2-3. 

The Texans will return to action Thursday, Jan. 23 when they host Midland College at 7:45 p.m.  Ameriprise Financial and Mike Mamantov will serve as the game sponsor and will feed all SPC employees beginning at 5:00 p.m.  Employees of South Plains College will also be able to sign up to win a $250 door prize at halftime. 

Live video Thursday's contest versus Midland College will be available atwww.spctexans.com.  Fans can also listen on the radio by tuning their dial to 1230 AM KLVT Radio where Michael Wiiest will be calling the action.

Scores around the WJCAC:  Howard 59, NMMI 52; Odessa 82, Midland 64; Western Texas 87, Clarendon 65; South Plains 90, Frank Phillips 82; New Mexico-bye.

South Plains (19-1, 6-0)
Andre Spight 6-12 5-6 20, Billydee Williams 3-7 9-14 16, Sekou Harris 1-4 2-2 5, Malik Nichols 1-4 0-0 2, Clayton Jones 0-0 2-2 2, Emmanuel Omogbo 2-3 5-6 9, Roderick Lawrence 4-9 1-3 9, Cedrick McAfee 1-4 0-0 2, Ryan Martin 6-8 12-13 25, Pedro Konofino0-3 0-0 0. Totals 24-54 36-46 90

Frank Phillips College (12-7, 2-3)
Stan Whittaker 4-11 2-2 11, Jermaine Johnson 0-0 0-0 0, Quame Edwards 4-7 3-4 12, Rasheed Swanston 3-12 0-0 9, Darrell Robinson 6-14 9-12 21, Emmanuel Johnson 1-2 2-2 5, Terrence Brown 0-0 0-0 0, Chris Hall 6-16 1-1 18, Chris Tawiah 1-1 0-2 2, Rokas Paulauskas 2-5 0-0 4. Totals 27-68 17-23 82

FG%: South Plains .444, Frank Phillips College .397. 3-pt FG:South Plains 6-19 (Spight 3-6, Williams 1-4, Harris 1-2, Lawrence 0-2, McAfee 0-2, Martin 1-2, Konofino 0-1), Frank Phillips College 11-27 (Whittaker 1-3, Edwards 1-2, Swanston 3-10, Robinson 0-1, Johnson 1-1, Hall 5-10). Rebounds: South Plains 39 (Williams 9, Martin 9), Frank Phillips College 26 (Robinson 7). Fouls South Plains 20, Frank Phillips College 30. Fouled out: Harris Lawrence Johnson Tawiah . Technical: TAWIAH. Assists: South Plains 12 (Harris 5), Frank Phillips College 11 (Robinson 9). Steals: South Plains 8 (Spight 4), Frank Phillips College 7 (Whittaker 3). Blocked shots: South Plains 4 (Lawrence 2), Frank Phillips College 1 (Robinson 1). Turnovers: South Plains 19, Frank Phillips College 1