Texans pound Frank Phillips 85-74 Monday, improve to 8-2 in WJCAC play

BORGER — The South Plains College men's basketball team had four players score in double digits as they improved to 16-6 on the year and 8-2 in the Western Junior College Athletic Conference, pounding Frank Phillips College 85-74 Monday night.

Sophomore Jordan Branger was 6 of 12 from 3, netting 24 points and five rebounds to lead all scorers in the contest. Texas Tech signee Deshawn Corprew knocked down 6 of 11 shots from the floor including four 3s, ending the night with 18 points, six rebounds, and four assists.

Sophomore big man Isaiah Maurice was 5-for-6 from the floor, netting 14 points and grabbed five boards, while Ben Perez was 4 of 8 from the field, racking up 14 points to go along with three rebounds and three assists.

"We hit some shots, and when you make shots you have a chance to do some things," South Plains head coach Steve Green said. "Jordan and Deshawn hit some shots, and it makes it easier inside when you're hitting from the outside, and vice versa."

South Plains shot 54.9 percent from the floor and 48 percent from 3 in the contest, knocking down eight 3s before the midway point as Corprew led all scorers with 14 points before the break. Perez and Brangers combined for 11 points after 20 minutes as the Texans led 36-30 at the half.

The Texans poured in 15 of 25 attempts in the second half, shooting 60 percent from the floor and 55.6 percent from 3 in the final stint. Isaiah Maurice netted 12 points and grabbed three rebounds in the final 20 minutes as South Plains tallied 18 points inside the paint and received 23 points off the bench.

Marquise Kindel led the Plainsmen (11-13, 3-7) with 19 points and five rebounds, knocking down 7 of 12 attempts from the floor in 40 minutes played. Kwame McBean chipped in 14 points and Kent Thomas poured in 12 as the Plainsmen shot 40.4 percent from the field and were 20 of 21 from the charity stripe.

Frank Phillips forced 17 turnovers in the contest resulting in 21 points on the offensive end. The Plainsmen won the battle on the glass, outrebounding the Texans 34-30 as they netted 18 points in the paint and received 22 points off the bench.

"I think when we are solid offensively we're a pretty good team, but we just go through lapses where we look like we don't know each other," Green said. "We look like we don't know what the other guy is doing or what he might do, and we turn the ball over – unforced turnovers. That keeps you from building momentum when you do that."

South Plains will return to the hardwood on Thursday when they host Howard College at 7:30 p.m. at the Texan Dome.