T-Bird (MBB) Grabs 3rd Straight Ranked Win

The Thunderbirds earned their third straight win over a ranked opponent defeating No. 15 Midland College 74-64.

NMJC started the game off well Thursday night. A Garrison Phelps triple gave the T-Birds a 22-9 advantage at the 9:09 mark in the first half. A couple possessions later, Phelps roared down the lane and threw down a thunderous dunk to incite the T-Bird faithful and make the score 24-14 with 7:29 remaining in the half.

NMJC expanded the lead to 14 points, 39-25, at the end of the first half.

The Chaps cut the deficit to four points with 8:20 left to make the score 54-50. Melian Martinez was big down the stretch for NMJC. Martinez had a sequence where he blocked a shot, came down the court and threw down a putback dunk with 4:21 left in the game to put NMJC in front 66-55. The air came out of Midland sails after the play as NMJC went on to defeat the Chaps 74-64. 

Sophomore Jannoy Thomas finished with 21 points going 10-of-11 from the free throw line with five rebounds and three assists. Armon Jarrard recorded 14 points and a career-high five steals.

Garrison Phelps finished with seven points and six rebounds. Deuce Benjamin chipped in seven points and Isaiah Alexander added eight boards. Melian Martinez grabbed seven rebounds in the 10-point win.

The T-Birds shot 23-for-60 (38.3%) from the field, 8-of-25 (32%) from the 3-point line, and 20-of-27 (74.1%) from the charity stripe. NMJC forced 16 turnovers and held the Chaps to 37.5% from the field.

The Thunderbirds remain in fifth place in the WJCAC standings behind first place South Plains at 11-2, Frank Phillips at 9-3, Midland at 8-4, and Odessa College at 8-5. 

The T-Birds improve to 21-6 (7-6) and will play Frank Phillips College 21-5 (9-3) in Borger, Texas Monday, Feb. 24 at 7:30 p.m. CST.