Texans too much for Clarendon, top Bulldogs 100-98 to capture Region V Title

WEATHERFORD — The South Plains College men's basketball team has earned the opportunity to play for the program's fourth national title after defeating Clarendon 100-98 on Saturday, capturing the Region V title, and an automatic bid to the NJCAA Men's Basketball National Tournament.

The Texans, who will enter the tournament as either the No. 1 or No. 2 seed, will be one of 24 teams selected on Sunday during the NJCAA Selection Show at 6 p.m., which will air live on the NJCAA Network.

"This was a great game between two really good teams," South Plains head coach Hayden Sowers said. "Our guys made plays, and they deserve this one. They get 48 hours to celebrate this one, and then we will lock in on our next opponent. Offensively, we found a way to create shots down the stretch, and in the postseason, stats don't matter, you just have to find a way to win, and all the credit goes to our players. They won this game."

The Texans unleashed every part of their offensive arsenal Saturday, as the WJCAC Player of the Year Malique Ewin went off for 26 points and eight boards. Jabori McGhee and Jermahri Hill each finished with 23 points, while Jalen Hampton poured in 18 points and snagged 11 boards. South Plains shot 58.2 percent from the field, and went 21 of 28 from the free throw line in the contest.

Clarendon found ways to answer with the rock, as former McDonald's High School All-American Dior Johnson led all scorers with 40 points, six rebounds, and six assists, knocking down 11 of 24 shots from the field and was 16 of 18 from the charity stripe. Lenard Taylor dropped in 30 points over 38 minutes, while Gloire Goma netted 10. The Bulldogs shot a 50 percent clip form the floor, poured in 10 of 21 shots from distance, and were 22 of 26 from the free throw line.

"I told our players before the game, I put 35,000 miles on my truck this summer driving all over the United States recruiting these guys," Sowers said. "They bought into the vision, and now we're champions. I told Dr. Satterwhite and Roger Reding when I came off the court after we lost to Ranger last year that we were going to win it next year. We did it, now we are going to go try and win a national title."