NMJC (MBB) Drops OT Thriller to Howard in Region V Semifinal

The T-Birds fell 73-68 in overtime against Howard College in the Region V Semifinal on Friday, March 13. 

The first half was more of a defensive contest from both teams out on the floor. The Hawks shot 39.1% from the floor, 46.2% from the line, and turned the ball over 13 times. NMJC struggled as well, shooting 26.7% from the field, 21.1% from 3-point territory, and turned the ball over nine times.

The game had the same feel in the first half as the quarterfinal against Collin with Howard hitting a 3-pointer as the buzzer sounded just as Collin did in the Region Quarterfinal. The triple put the Hawks ahead at half 27-25.  

The matchup featured 13 ties and 15 lead changes with neither team leading by double digits at any point in the day. 

Howard's largest lead of the game was seven points, 42-35, with 13:35 left in the second half. Grigorije Avramovic gave NMJC their first lead of the second half with a driving layup to make it 53-51 T-Birds. The Hawks scored six straight points to hold a 57-53 lead with 2:38 left. 

A Delang Muon free throw and a clutch RJ Nance 3-pointer tied the score at 57 apiece with 1:40 remaining. NMJC took the 59-58 lead on a Muon contested layup with a minute to play. The turning point in the game was when Ladji Coulibaly was whistled for his fifth foul with 37 seconds remaining. The T-Birds lost their center for the remainder of the game, and the Hawks took the lead on the free throws to make it 60-59 Howard. 

NMJC missed a jumper to take the lead and had to foul with 17 seconds left. The Hawks went 1-for-2 from the line and took a 61-59 advantage. RJ Nance drove to the basket and drew a foul with 7.5 seconds left. Nance hit both free throws tying the game at 61. Howard missed the game-winning shot as time expired, sending the game to OT.  

In overtime, forward Delang Muon fouled out, and the T-Birds struggled to make a shot going 2-for-8 from the field and 0-for-4 from the 3-point line. Howard only made one shot in OT but went 9-for-10 from the charity stripe to end the T-Birds upset bid.    

The T-Birds ran out of steam falling to the No. 1 seeded WJCAC Champion Hawks 73-68 in OT. Howard would go on to defeat Midland College 82-72 in the Region V Championship on Saturday, March 14 to receive the auto-bid to nationals.

RJ Nance hit five 3-pointers and scored 24 points in the OT loss to the Hawks. Delang Muon was the only other start in double figures with 11 points. Grigorije Avramovic finished with seven points and nine rebounds.

Center Ladji Coulibaly had a game-high nine boards. Sophomore guard Kenny Fields came off the bench with nine points and center Francois Nkoy-Eale posted seven points and five rebounds.

The T-Birds shot 22-for-74 (29.7%) from the field, 9-of-42 (21.4%) from the 3-point line, and 15-of-23 (65.2%) from the free throw line. NMJC held the Hawks to 34% from the field and forced 16 turnovers.

The No. 15 Thunderbirds drop to 26-6 (12-4) on the year and will await their fate for the NJCAA DI Men's Basketball Championship tournament. NMJC's last appearance at the national tournament was in 2014. The selection show is set for Monday, March 16 at 4 p.m. MDT on the NJCAA Network.

The NJCAA DI Men's Basketball Championship will be held at Hutchinson Sports Arena in Hutchinson, Kansas March 21-28.