Odessa’s Late Push Takes Down T-Bird MBB

Odessa men's basketball used seven second half three-pointers to defeat NMJC 77-69.

The Wranglers were in control in the first half up 12 points, 22-10, with 7:46 remaining. The Thunderbirds narrowed the gap with an 11-0 run capped off by a Jeremiah Cherry layup with 2:37 left in the half. NMJC went into halftime down four points, 28-24.

T-Bird guard Luca Barei hit a 3-pointer with 11:53 to go in the game to give NMJC a comfortable six-point lead, 46-40. The Thunderbirds maintained a six-point lead following a Leo Torbor layup with 9:18 left in the second half.

The Wranglers caught fire from beyond the arc hitting four straight 3-pointers to take a 56-53 lead at the 6:01 mark. A Torbor layup had NMJC within two points, 58-56, with 4:06 to go. The Thunderbirds were unable to keep it a one possession game the rest of the way and fell 77-69.

NMJC center Jeremiah Cherry had 13 points and six rebounds. Luca Barei was the leading scorer off the bench with 10 points. Leo Torbor finished with 10 points and Deuce Benjamin added nine points.

The Thunderbirds were 21-of-49 (42.9%) from the field, shot 4-for-15 (26.7%) from the 3-point line, and 23-for-46 (50%) from the stripe.

NMJC slides to 18-7 (5-6) on the season and will play next against Howard College in Hobbs, NM Monday, Feb. 19 at 7:30 p.m. MST.