NMJC men win fourth straight in 2 OT thriller

Article Written by: Jason Farmer NEWS-SUN

Photo Taken by: Tony Baker nmtxsports.com

The New Mexico Junior College men's basketball team needed two overtime periods and got some big play from Makol Mawien as the Thunderbirds managed to win their fourth straight game Monday night, beat visiting Howard College 71-69 in double overtime at Caster Activity Center.

Josiah Riley scored what turned out to be the game winner with 39 seconds to play.

Mawien gave NMJC its first lead of either overtime with 2:32 left in the second overtime period. Damontrez Hawes had a chance to put the T-Birds up by three, but missed the first of his two free throws before hitting the second. With 1:14 left, NMJC led 69-67, but the Hawks tied it at the line with just under a minute to play.

Mawien led all scorers with 19 points while also grabbing 12 rebounds and blocking six shots. He was one of four T-Birds to score in double figures. Shawn Olden and Riley each had 10 points while Xabier Gomez finished with 15.

Trailing by three with 26 seconds left the first overtime, the T-Birds had the ball thanks to an offensive foul on Howard College After a quick NMJC timeout, the ball found its way into the hands of Makol Mawien who sank a trey to re-tie the game at 64-64with 20 seconds left. Mawien then grabbed a defensive rebound as time expired, sending the game into double overtime.

the Thunderbirds led 26-20 at the end of the first half, but came out of halftime sluggish and let Howard Colege battle its way back into the game. the Hawks got withtn one point, 28-27, of the T-Birds early in the second half.

NMJC responded with a 10-2 run and actually led by 10 points twice in the second half, but couldnt hold either lead. With 1:01to play, NMJC's lead had been widdled down to 2 points. the Hawks then tied the game at 54-54 with 33 seconds left to force overtime.

With the win, NMJC improved to 17-5 and 5-3 in league play. The T-Birds will be back in action Thursday at Odessa College.