Texans remain atop NJCAA polls

South Plains (10-0) received 15-of-16 first place votes and is trailed in the polls by WJCAC rival Howard College.  The Hawks moved up one spot and are now the second-ranked team in the nation, potentially setting up a huge 1-2 showdown when the two teams square off Saturday, Jan. 12 at 3 p.m. at the Texan Dome in Levelland.

Though undefeated for the season and riding a 46-game winning streak that dates to last season, the Texans have had two very close calls this season.  On Nov. 13, South Plains was taken into overtime by Temple College, a game South Plains won 77-74.  

Most recently, however, the Texans' Roderick Lawrence hit a jumper to put South Plains ahead of Hill College 73-72 in the final seconds of the game.  Hill missed an opportunity at the buzzer to pull off the upset.

"All in all, it was a pretty good semester," Texan head coach Steve Green said.  "We've had to depend on a lot of new faces this season, but for the most part they have stepped up and done a pretty good job."

The Texans have completed the fall portion of their schedule and will now enjoy some time off for the holidays before traveling to the Phoenix, Ariz. area for three games where they will play Scottsdale Dec. 31; Mesa on Jan. 2; and Chandler-Gilbert Jan. 3 before opening conference play at the New Mexico Military Institute in Roswell, N.M. Jan. 7.

South Plains' first home conference game will be against Midland College at 7:45 p.m. Jan. 10.