Scott nets 20 points as No. 2 Texans outlast Murray State College 89-82

LEVELLAND — Four players scored in double figures as the second-ranked South Plains College men's basketball team outlasted Murray State College 89-82 Friday night at the Texan Dome.

The Texans will be back on the floor on Saturday at 1 p.m. against Strength 'N Motion at the Texan Dome. Fans are welcome to attend, and the game can be viewed live at spctexans.com.

"We made some offensive plays when we had to, but they made us do everything that we would and made us bring everything we had," South Plains head coach Steve Green said. "They make 19 3s, and when someone comes into our place and sets a Dome record, it should have been us that did that."

Sophomore Jevonnie Scott led the Texans on the offensive end as the Texas A&M signee went off for 20 points and three boards, dropping in 8 of 15 shots from the floor and was 4 of 5 from the charity stripe in 29 minutes of action. Georgetown transfer Myron Gardner recorded his second consecutive double-double as the 6-foot-6 guard from Detroit poured in 17 points and snagged 12 rebounds, netting 6 of his 11 attempts from the field and was 3 of 5 from distance.

"We got off to a slow start and settled too much, and I think when Myron drove down and drew someone and passed it to Jevonnie for the dunk it kind of got us going," Green said. "That's the kind of stuff that we shouldn't have to wait until there are five minutes to go in the first half, that should be from the tip-off."

South Plains shot 46.9 percent from the field and 40 percent from the 3-point line in the first half to take a 40-31 lead into the locker room at the midway points. Murray State shot a 32.4 percent clip in the front half including a 46.7 percent mark from distance. The Texans would continue to find success on the offensive end in the back half shooting 52.9 percent from the floor and 46.7 percent from 3.

Dalph Panopio poured in 18 points over 37 minutes for South Plains, knocking down 6 of 9 shots from the floor, and was 4 of 6 from 3 to go along with three assists and two steals. Sophomore Benjamin Bayela netted 18 points for the Texans, chipping in 7 of 13 shots including a 4 of 7 clip from long range over 29 minutes.

"Dalph and Ben hit open shots, and that's what they're supposed to do," Green said. "If you're open, you're supposed to make those shots and that's why they're on the floor. It was like there were two teams on the floor tonight who didn't care about guarding anybody and thought the other guy would miss. I told our guys they're going to enjoy watching a movie tomorrow, and it's going to be bang, bang, bang all the way to 19. We have to get that across to our guys."

Kobe Burgess led the Aggies with 21 points on 7 of 11 shooting and was 7 of 10 from the 3-point line over 30 minutes. Andre Washington and Dyson Plumley each finished with 13 points as Murray State shot 40 percent from the field in the contest including a 54.3 percent mark from the 3-point line.