No. 7 Texans fall to New Mexico Junior College 78-68 Thursday

HOBBS — The seventh-ranked South Plains College men's basketball team fell to New Mexico Junior College 78-68 Thursday at Ron Black Court at the Caster Activity Center.

South Plains moves to 21-4 on the season and 10-3 in the Western Junior College Athletic Conference, one game back of Odessa College with three games remaining in the regular season. The Texans will return home on Monday when they square off with Western Texas College at 7:30 p.m. on Hockley County School Employees Credit Union Night at the Texan Dome.

South Plains shot just 38.7 percent from the floor and were 9 of 31 from the perimeter against the Thunderbirds. New Mexico Junior College (19-7, 8-4) shot a 49 percent clip from the field and were 8-for-19 from the 3-point line. The Thunderbirds made the most of their opportunities from the charity stripe, dropping in 20 of 22 attempts.

Sophomore Trey Wade led South Plains on the offensive end with 19 points, nine boards and a pair of assists, pouring in 8 of 19 attempts from the field. Jonah Antonio tallied 19 points for South Plains, bucketing 6 of 7 attempts from the 3-point line. Sophomore center Gaige Prim chipped in 12 points and five rebounds for the Texans while Dajour Joseph provided six points off the bench.

New Mexico's Darnell Rogers led all scorers with 23 points and six assists, finishing 5 of 14 from the field and was 10-for-12 from the free throw line. Gideon George recorded 16 points and 13 rebounds for the Thunderbirds while Najja hunter dropped in 10 and Hall Elisas bucketed eight points.