Jones Drops 23 in Loss to Bulldogs

Micah Jones finished with 23 points, knocking down seven three-pointers, while shooting 50% from the three-point line in the 79-74 loss to Clarendon College.

The T-Birds trailed early in the contest 15-6 following a Bulldog three-pointer. NMJC climbed back into the game with a 13-4 run to tie the score, 19-19, on a Jayden Webley layup. 

Guard Josh Nwankwo hit a pair of free throws with 7:21 remaining in the half to cap off a 9-1 run and give the T-Birds a 28-21 lead. The tide turned over the next four minutes of play with Bulldogs going on a run of their own to snatch back the lead 34-33.

Micah Jones hit a three-pointer with 44 seconds left in the half to give the Thunderbirds a one-point lead 40-39. Jones knocked down four threes in the first half to account for all 12 of his points.

Logan McLaughlin completed a three-point play to give the Thunderbirds their largest lead of the second half, 53-47, with 13:40 remaining. However, Clarendon began to take control of the game down the stretch. 

A 20-7 run over the next eight minutes of play gave the Bulldogs a commanding lead, 67-60. The T-Birds got within three points of the lead, 68-65, following an Antwaun Massey jumper with 4:01 left. The margin was the closest NMJC would get the rest of the evening. The T-Birds dropped the contest by five points, 79-74.  

Freshman forward Antwaun Massey finished with 12 points and six rebounds. Freshman center Jeremiah Cherry recorded 11 points and six rebounds. Sophomore Josh Nwankwo grabbed seven rebounds and tallied six points. 

The T-Birds shot 27-of-62 (43.5%) from the field, 12-for-30 (40%) from the three-point line, and 8-of-15 (53.3%) from the free throw line.

The Thunderbirds slip to 10-12 on the year and 3-5 in conference. NMJC will play Odessa College Saturday, Feb. 2 at 7:30 p.m. CDT in Odessa, Texas.