NMJC (MBB) Wins Home Opener

The Thunderbirds opened the 2024-25 homestand with an 89-60 win over Redlands Community College.

The T-Birds were held scoreless the first 4:58 minutes of the game and trailed 5-0 at the 15:58 mark. The Cougars held the lead at the midway point of the first half by the same margin this time 13-8 with 9:42 to go in the half.

An Armon Jarrard 3-pointer gave the Thunderbirds their first lead of the game, 25-22, with 1:12 left in the half. Jarrard hit his second three in a row on the next possession to extend the lead to six points, 28-22. Rodrigo Farias added to the onslaught with a layup just before half at the nine second mark to bring NMJC in front 30-22. The Cougars hit 1-of-2 free throws at the end of the half to make the score 30-23. 

NMJC opened the second half with a 13-4 run to push the lead to 16 points with 13:37 left in the game. Two free throws by Jannoy Thomas pushed the lead up to 20 points at 61-41 with 7:52 remaining. The Cougars were unable to bring the game back into the single digits and fell by 29 points 89-60 Monday night. 

Jayden Spearman ended the day with a game-high 15 points and four rebounds. Deuce Benjamin finished in double figures with 11 points and five rebounds. Guard Rodrigo Farias finished with 10 points, six rebounds, and four assists.

Forward Francois Nkoy-Eale recorded seven rebounds, while Armon Jarrard tallied nine points. Marquan Harris, Melian Martinez, and Victor Ezeh each added five rebounds in their first game inside the Caster Activity Center. 

The T-Birds shot 32-75 (42.7%) from the field, 9-for-35 (25.7%) from the 3-point line, and 16-of-28 (57.1%) from the free throw line. NMJC's bench outscored Redlands 59-28 during Thursday's game. The Thunderbirds forced 24 turnovers and held the Cougars to 33.8% from the field and 24% from the three-point line.

The T-Birds improve to 3-0 on the season and will face Cochise College in Hobbs, NM Saturday, Nov. 9 at 2 p.m. MDT.