Cherry’s Double-Double Not Enough Versus No. 2 Odessa

Freshman center Jeremiah Cherry recorded his fifth double-double of the season scoring 26 points on 10-of-16 shooting, while adding 12 rebounds in a 76-69 loss to No. 2 Odessa College.

The first half featured five lead changes. Lewis Rowe made a pair of free throws at the end of the half to give the Thunderbirds a 33-32 lead headed into the break. 

The Wranglers came out of halftime hot, knocking down two three pointers in the first five minutes of the second half to give Odessa their largest lead up to that point, 45-37. 

An Antwaun Massey dunk had the T-Birds within three points of the Wranglers 47-44 lead. 

Odessa made a layup to take a seven-point lead, 55-48, with 7:56 remaining. The Thunderbirds responded by cutting the lead back to three points, 55-52, after a Cameron Harris jumper with 7:10 remaining in the matchup.

Harris then scored five straight points to propel the T-Birds to a 7-2 run and within two points of the lead, 59-57 with 5:18 to play. NMJC was unable to get over the hump in the final five minutes, ultimately being outscored 17-12 the rest of the way to lose 76-69 on the road in Odessa.  

Sophomore guard Micah Jones chipped in 11 points and five assists. Sophomore Josh Nwankwo grabbed 10 boards and scored six points. Sophomore Cameron Kimble netted nine points off the bench.

The T-Birds shot 24-of-51 (47.1%) from the field, 5-for-16 (31.3%) from the three-point line, and 16-of-22 (72.7%) from the charity stripe.

The Thunderbirds fall to 10-13 on the year and 3-6 in conference. NMJC will play Midland College Thursday, Feb. 9 at 7:30 p.m. CDT in Midland, Texas.