T-Bird (MBB) Ends Regular Season 4th in WJCAC, Heads to Region V Tournament in Waco

The Thunderbirds demolished Clarendon College 92-65 Thursday night to earn the No. 4 seed in the WJCAC at the Region V Tournament.

The contest was close in the first half as NMJC led 37-34 at halftime. NMJC used eight second half 3-pointers to outscore the Bulldogs 55-31. 

The T-Birds shot 50% from the field in the second half and 42.1% from 3-point territory. Clarendon was held to only one triple in the second half. Jannoy Thomas dropped 12 of his 15 points in the second half to guide the T-Birds to a 27-point victory. Thomas also dished out five assists.   

The T-Birds finished the game with five players in double figures.

Armon Jarrard finished the game with 16 points, four assists, and four steals. Sophomore guard Jayden Spearman recorded 16 points and three rebounds. Deuce Benjamin went 4-of-7 from the 3 point land to finish with 14 points. Amhad Jarrard tallied 11 points and six rebounds.  

Freshman guard Garrison Phelps finished with six rebounds and four assists. Wing Isaiah Alexander grabbed six boards. 

The T-Birds shot 32-for-69 (46.4%) from the field, 14-of-37 (37.8%) from the 3-point line, and 14-of-16 (87.5%) from the charity stripe. The Thunderbirds forced 15 turnovers and held the Bulldogs to 23.5% from three-point land.

No. 20 NMJC has won four straight to improve to 24-6 (10-6). The T-Birds have now eclipsed their win total of 23 from last season. 

The No. 4 seed Thunderbirds face the No. 1 seed McLennan College 25-5 (12-2) from the north in the first round of the Region V Tournament in Waco, Texas at McLennan CC Wednesday, March 12 at 7 p.m. CDT.