Soares nets 18 points as Texans top Midland 67-63 Thursday

MIDLAND — The South Plains College men's basketball team had three players score in double figures and knocked down eight 3s in rout to a 67-63 conference road win Thursday night at the Al G. Langford Chaparral Center.

South Plains improves to 18-8 on the year and 10-4 in the Western Junior College Athletic Conference and will return home on Monday night to take on Frank Phillips College at 7:30 p.m. at the Texan Dome.

The Texans shot 50 percent from the floor and 36.4 percent from distance with freshman Rivaldo Soares leading South Plains on the offensive end with 18 points on 7 of 13 shooting over 40 minutes. Freshman Benjamin Bayela dropped in 17 points and hit five 3s to go along with five rebounds and two steals.

Freddie De La Cruz recorded 15 points and 10 rebounds, connecting on 7 of 8 shots over 31 minutes while Junior Farquhar netted eight points and Jevonnie Scott had four points and five boards.

The Texans dominated the glass outrebounding the Chaparrals 35-18 inside and tallied 12 points inside the paint. South Plains forced 10 turnovers resulting in 15 points on the offensive end which proved to be crucial down the stretch.

Amani Harris led Midland offensively with 23 points, five assists and four boards, finishing 7 of 11 from the field and was 6 of 10 from the 3-point line over 40 minutes. Derrick Ogechi poured in 19 points and hauled in six boards while Thomas Miles netted 17 points and dished our four assists.