MBB Falls to No. 1 South Plains

Luca Barei was the top scorer for the T-Birds Thursday night posting a career-high 15 points in the 85-76 loss to No. 1 South Plains. 

South Plains held a 20-13 lead just past the midway point of the first half. The Thunderbirds responded with a 7-0 run to knot the score up 20-20 with 7:41 remaining in the half. 

NMJC and South Plains went back and forth over the final seven minutes with the Texans clinging to a two-point lead, 34-32, at the half.

South Plains came out of halftime hot and with a quick 7-0 start. NMJC was tasked with a nine-point deficit, 43-34 at the 17:26 mark. An 11-1 run by the T-Birds capped off by a Deuce Benjamin left wing three gave NMJC their first lead of the second half with 12:35 remaining.

The Texans regained the lead and were up by seven points when NMJC shooting guard Luca Barei knocked down a 3-pointer to make it a four-point game, 54-50, with 10:00 to go. A Leo Torbor floater kept the T-Birds within four points, 62-58 with 6:15 left. 

The Texans defense locked down NMJC the rest of the way and in the end the Thunderbirds fell by nine points, 85-76.   

Leo Torbor finished with 14 points on 6-of-10 shooting from the field. Deuce Benjamin reached double figures off the bench scoring 11 points.

Antwaun Massey recorded 10 points and seven rebounds. Center Jeremiah Cherry registered 10 points and five rebounds.

The Thunderbirds were 28-of-65 (43.1%) from the field, shot 5-for-19 (26.3%) from 3-point land, and 15-for-23 (65.2%) from the line.

NMJC drops to 18-5 (5-4) on the season and will play Western Texas College in Hobbs, NM Monday, Feb. 12 at 7:30 p.m. MST.