T-Birds keep pace in WJCAC

Hobbs News Sun
February 22, 2019

Entering play Thursday night, the New Mexico Junior College men's basketball team was in fourth place in the Western Junior College Athletic Conference with Howard College hot on the Thunderbirds' heels. Howard took care of business, beating NMMI 89-50, so the T-Birds needed to win to stay in fourth place, the final spot in the Region V Tournament.

The T-Birds accomplished their mission Thursday, beating Frank Phillips College 70-58 in Caster Activity Center.

New Mexico Junior College led at the break, but not by much as the T-Birds were out in front 29-27. However, NMJC outscored Frank Phillips 41-31 over the final 20 minutes to secure the win.

Four different T-Birds scored in double figures. Gideon George had a game-high 20 points while also leading the T-Birds with nine rebounds. Najja Hunter added 14 points while Dimitri Diara chipped in 13 and Hall Elisias added 11. Darnell Rogers, Hobbs graduate Clay Strasner, Mohammad Jafari, and Deion Rhea also scored for the T-Birds.

With the win, NMJC improves to 20-8 on the season and 9-5 in WJCAC action. The T-Birds and Claredon College have the same conference record, but the Bulldogs swept the season series with NMJC. Howard College is not out of the race as the Hawks are sitting in fifth place at 9-6 in WJCAC play.

The T-Birds will closeout the regular season on the road. First up is a trip to Odessa College on Monday followed by a trip to Midland College on Thursday. Odessa College (12-2, 23-5) leads the WJCAC, but the T-Birds did knock off the Wranglers in Caster Activity Center last month.