#2 Texans blast #4 Blazers 85-67 Saturday

LEVELLAND – Five players scored in double figures and Jalen Hampton and Kerwin Prince each recorded a double-double as the second-ranked South Plains College men's basketball team blasted No. 4 Dallas College-North Lake 85-67 Saturday at the Texan Dome.

South Plains will be off Sunday before playing in their final contest before the Thanksgiving break when they host Ranger College at 5:15 p.m. on Monday, Nov. 20 at the Dome.

"This was a good win, and this is the time for us to figure out who we are," South Plains head coach Hayden Sowers said. "We made halftimes adjustments and our guys executed them, and we cut our turnovers down in the second half and that was crucial. We have a lot of guys who can score from different areas, and I feel like defensively we have taken a step forward the past two days. When we get stops, we can use our athleticism to get out and run, and that's a big part of what we do."

Jalen Hampton led all scorers with 23 points and 14 boards, connecting on eight of 14 shots from the field and was seven of eight from the free throw line. Jermahri Hill netted 18 points and dished out five assists over 38 minutes, while Kerwin Prince finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds.

"We moved the ball, and sharing the ball helps us create shots," Hampton said. "We like to attack in transition, and I try to go get the ball off the rim and attack the gaps on offense. We have to continue to pressure on defense, which helps us out offensively. When we crash the boards inside, it opens up opportunities for our shooters."

The Texans shot 54.7 percent from the field and were 21 of 24 from the charity stripe. Randy Woolf led the Blazers with 20 points and three assists, as North Lake shot 46.9 percent from the field and was nine of 22 from distance.

"We were able to find open shots by moving the ball," Hill said. "We have a lot of depth, and as long as the ball is moving its very tough to guard us. It's important for us to keep improving on the defensive end because if we can get the ball in transition, it puts a lot of pressure on the other team to try and slow us down."