T-Birds fall to Western Texas
T-Birds fall to Western Texas
EDUARDO MIRANDA NEWS-SUN
February 12, 2019
NMJC's Nathan Fromm tries to get past three Western Texas defenders in a 85-76 loss Monday night.
The New Mexico Junior College men's team welcomed the Western Texas College to Caster Activity Center Monday night. The Thunderbirds have won their last five games and were looking to avenge their 70-43 loss in Texas earlier in the season.
NMJC saw its streak snapped by Western Texas College in a 85-76 loss.
The Thunderbirds and the Westerners played in an exciting back and forth game. Both teams looked to play at a high tempo wanting to use their speed and athleticism to try and get easy points.
The defense in the first half was the difference for both teams. The Westerners employed a three-two zone to keep the Thunderbirds on the perimeter and out of the paint. Western Texas' zone had success in forcing NMJC to commit turnovers, allowing it to get out in transition and build a nine-point lead.
The Thunderbirds, using a man-to-man defense, struggled with the length and height of its opponent. The Thunderbirds looked to attack WTC's height with its speed, and force the Westerners to pass the ball out of the paint into the perimeter. The quick hands of the Thunderbirds did lead to turnovers and chances in the transition.
The Thunderbirds offense struggled to get into their half-court sets and create any easy opportunities. NMJC had to fight for every point, most coming from the perimeter where it shot only 39 percent and 29 percent from beyond the arc.
At the half the Thunderbirds trailed the Westerners 35-33.
The second half saw the Thunderbirds fall behind due to careless mistakes. NMJC committed turnovers allowing Western Texas to get out on the break. NMJC changed its defense to a one-three-one zone, which the opponent attacked through the middle. The Westerners attacked the paint with two players and both were capable of seeing the open shooter on the perimeter for threes.
The NMJC defense allowed Western Texas to score in the paint, 34 points, and get second chance opportunities, 17. This hurt the chances of the Thunderbirds as they tried to get back into the game in the final minutes.
The Thunderbirds offense struggled half way through the second half and saw the Westerners build an 18-point lead. The Thunderbirds did not quit and made a run to cut into the lead. NMJC used a two and three player press that caused the Western Texas ball handlers to commit turnovers and give the Thunderbirds a chance to get back into the game.
The Thunderbirds shooting began to find its rhythm and open threes they had been missing earlier in the game began to fall. The Thunderbirds had momentum in the final three minutes, but turnovers caused them to fall. NMJC made three turnovers bringing the ball up court that allowed Western Texas to get out in transition and secure the win.
"I was proud of our guys toward the end," NMJC coach Luke Adams said. "This really comes down to them wanting it more then us. We just got to regroup and get better. We have a big time game on Thursday, we need the crowd again they were fantastic tonight."
Darnell Rogers led the team with 22 points and five assists. Malik Mooving added 14 points before he was ejected early in the second half.
The Thunderbirds will face the ninth ranked South Plain College on Thursday night in Caster Activity Center at 7 p.m.