Thunderbirds Run Out of Steam Late in the 4th

The NMJC men's basketball team dropped a home contest to No. 10 Odessa College 67-58 Monday night.

The Thunderbirds found themselves in their largest deficit of the game, 30-17, with 2:21 left in the first half. A 3-pointer by NMJC guard Chaydon Stone and a Leo Torbor three-point play chipped into the Wrangler lead just before half. The T-Birds would head into halftime trailing by seven points, 32-25.

The Thunderbirds grinded their way back into the game and even took the lead, 43-42, on the layup from guard Leo Torbor with 11:08 left. The T-Birds finished an alley oop to forward Trey Harris and went on a 7-2 run to take a 50-46 lead with 6:52 remaining in the game. The Wranglers went on to close out the game on a 21-8 run and take down NMJC 67-58. 

Sophomore Leo Torbor led the T-Birds with 16 points, six rebounds, and three steals. Sophomore Chaydon Stone registered 14 points and four rebounds.

Center Jeremiah Cherry finished 10 points, six rebounds, and four blocks. Guard Deuce Benjamin scored 10 points off the bench.

The Thunderbirds shot 21-of-57 (36.8%) from the field, made 3-of-16 (18.8%) from behind the arc, and 13-of-21 (61.9%) from the line.

No. 20 NMJC falls to 14-3 (1-2) and will face Howard College in Big Spring, Texas Thursday, Jan. 18 at 7:30 p.m. CST.