NMJC (MBB) Picks Up 1st Win Versus South Plains in 1,820 Days

The T-Bird men's basketball team earned their second ranked win of the year on Thursday night when they defeated No. 11 South Plains 83-74.

The last time the T-Birds defeated South Plains was Thursday, Feb. 13, 2020, when they defeated the No. 20 Texans by a score of 80-66. 

The first half was a tight matchup with NMJC leading the entire way up until a South Plains triple gave the Texans their first lead of the game 34-33 at the 2:30 mark. The Thunderbirds ended the half on an 11-0 run aided by 3-pointers by Armon Jarrard and Isaiah Alexander which put NMJC ahead at the break 44-34. 

Starting the second half, Armon Jarrard knocked down another triple and Amhad Jarrard added a jumper to push the lead to the largest of the game at 15 points with 18:23 left in the second half.  The Texans whittled down the lead over the next 6:37 culminating in a 3-pointer to cut the lead to three points, 55-52, with 11:34 to go. 

South Plains tied the score up at 61-61 after their third straight 3-pointer. The momentum shifted when T-Bird center Melian Martinez blocked South Plains Arterio Morris at the rim but was called for the foul. Martinez was given a technical foul after the play which resulted in four free throws for the Texans. South Plains went 3-of-4 from the line to take a 64-61 lead.

T-Bird head coach Luke Mackay was still unsatisfied about the previous call and received a technical foul the next play resulting in two more free throws that made the deficit 66-61. 

A quick strike 3-pointer by Armon Jarrard made the score 66-64 South Plains with 7:24 left in the game. Jannoy Thomas tied the game up at 71 apiece with a layup at the 4:41 mark.

Armon Jarrard hit another big time three-pointer that tied the score at 74 with 2:18 left in the game. Thomas had the play of the game for NMJC when he drew the foul on a drive to the hole and converted the three-point play with 1:37 left to put the T-Birds on top 77-74. 

NMJC held South Plains scoreless over the last 3:55 and ended the game on a 12-0 run to win by nine points, 83-74.

Sophomore guard Armon Jarrard finished with four steals and 17 points on 5-of-11 shooting from 3-point territory. Isaiah Alexander was 9-of-11 from the charity stripe finishing with 14 points and a career-high 11 rebounds to record his first double-double.

Jannoy Thomas came off the bench and scored 15 points. Jayden Spearman was also in double figures scoring 10 points. Garrison Phelps finished with a career-high 10 rebounds. Center Melian Martinez added a career-high in rebounds as well finishing with seven boards.   

The Thunderbirds are fifth place in the WJCAC standings at 5-4 behind first place Midland College and South Plains who both sit at 7-2. Odessa and Frank Phillips are third and fourth at 6-3 and 5-3 respectively. 

The T-Birds move to 19-4 (5-4) and will play Western Texas 13-10 (4-5) in Snyder, Texas Monday, Feb. 10 at 7:30 p.m. CST.