Texans Drum Midland In Conference Opener

Levelland— The South Plains College Texans rode Deontae North's 30-point performance en route to an 89-63 drumming of Midland in the conference opener Wednesday night at the Texan Dome.

The Texans shot 50% from the field against the Chaparrals while placing three players in double figures. Che Bob finished with a double-double for the Texans, scoring 18 while hauling in 11 rebounds and two blocks.

Diamante Langston finished the contest with 10 points, six rebounds and four assists for the Texans, while Justice Green and Michael Wolfe each scored eight points. Sophomore forward Marlon Jones was a presence in the paint for the Texans, racking up six points and four blocked shots.

"I thought for the most part we set the tone in the first half for what we wanted to do," South Plains head coach Steve Green said. "We practiced all week on handling the ball and driving the ball to the rim, and we felt like it we could get inside we could make some plays. When people drive on us we block shots, and Marlon is a force back in there. He got off to a good defensive start and set the tone early on to not come in here, he didn't score a bunch tonight but was definitely a factor on the glass."

South Plains went on a 16-7 run over the first five minutes of the game before eventually pushing their lead to 35-15 on a three from North with 7:42 remaining before the break. Bob converted on a layup while being fouled with 1:45 left in the first half before converting the and one to give the Texans a 45-27 lead at halftime.

The final 20 minutes saw much of the same as the Texans shot 59% from the floor in the second half while forcing Midland to shoot just 39% in the final frame.

Langston stepped in front of a pass and took it coast to coast, converting at the bucket to begin the second half and push the Texans lead back to 20 points, 47-27. Midland's Jordan Furlow would connect on a three from the left corner with 10:57 remaining to trim the Texans' lead to 61-43.

South Plains would answer back and go on a 13-6 run over the next three minutes capped off by a three from the top of the key from Roberto Gallinat with just under seven minutes left in regulation. The two teams would trade buckets for the remainder off the game with North knocking down another three, his fourth of the night to give the Texans an 87-60 lead with 53 seconds remaining.

"This was a must win for us because it was a home game, and when we go down to Midland they'll but a completely different team, Green said. "We opened up conference against a 12-1 team, and now we go to Frank Phillips and they're a good team, and it's not an easy place to play."

Now on a five game win streak, South Plains will now travel to Borger on Saturday to square off with Frank Phillips with tipoff set for 3:45 pm.