T-Birds Knock Off No. 24 Midland
Sophomore guard Elijah Bailey hit two free throws with two seconds remaining to give NMJC the 95-93 win over No. 24 Midland College.
NMJC trailed by seven points, 70-63, with 10:45 to go in the game. Later in the half, Midland's Leon Williams knocked down a pair of free throws to give the Chaps a five point advantage, 87-82, with 3:25 remaining.
T-Bird guard Chaydon Stone hit a three-pointer with 3:08 left in the second half to pull NMJC within two points, 87-85. Thunderbird guard Deuce Benjamin's free throws tied the score at 89 apiece as the game entered the last two minutes of play.
Free throws would become a theme in the final minutes for the T-Birds. Chaydon Stone hit two from the line to give NMJC a 91-89 edge with 1:04 left. This was the Thunderbirds first lead since the 17:02 mark in the second half.
NMJC sophomore forward Trey Harris went 1-of-2 from the stripe with 11 seconds left to extend the Thunderbirds lead to three points, 93-90. Midland's Leon Williams screamed down the floor and heaved a right wing three with six seconds to go that hit nothing but net.
Elijah Bailey took control for the T-Birds with the score tied at 93 all. The sophomore guard drove to the cup and drew a foul. He went on to hit both free throws with two seconds remaining in the game to secure the 95-93 victory.
The game featured 18 lead changes and 12 ties. NMJC finished with five players in double figures.
Chaydon Stone made three triples to finish with 18 points in the two-point win. Antwaun Massey earned his fourth double-double of the season. The sophomore forward notched 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Freshman Deuce Benjamin was the spark plug off the bench for the T-Birds dropping 17 points in 25 minutes of play.
Sophomore center Jeremiah Cherry recorded 13 points and five rebounds. Sophomore guard Leo Torbor registered 11 points in 26 minutes.
Midland shot lights out going 33-of-53 (62.3%) from the field and 13-for-25 (52%) from beyond the arc.
The Thunderbirds were 32-of-64 (50%) from the field, shot 9-of-21 (42.9%) from 3-point land, and 22-of-35 (62.9%) from the line.
NMJC is now 15-4 (2-3) on the season and will play next against Frank Phillips College in Borger, Texas on Thursday, Jan. 25 at 7:30 p.m. CST.
