Texans drop road contest at Clarendon 105-94

CLARENDON – The NJCAA seventh-ranked South Plains College Texans could not quite match the red-hot Clarendon College Bulldogs Thursday night, falling by the score of 105-94 while also dropping into a tie for first place with Howard College in the WJCAC standings.

It was a race from the beginning, with both teams racking up 30 points by the midway point of the first half. 

With just under four minutes to go in the front half, the two teams found themselves tied up for the seventh time, 44-44. 

South Plains (22-4, 9-3 WJCAC) would muster only one more field goal before halftime as the Bulldogs outscored them 10-2 in the final minutes. 

Clarendon's hot hand and the Texans cold spell continued as the second half got underway as the Bulldogs opened the back half on a 13-4 run to promptly take a 17-point lead.  

Trailing by 15 with time starting to run out, the Texans scored seven straight points behind a three-point play by Emmanuel Omogbo and followed by a 3 by Sekou Harris.  Omogbo made 1-of-2 from the line and, suddenly, the Texans were back to within eight points, 92-84.  

That would be as close as the Texans would get as Clarendon again began making shots as well as free throws down the stretch to hold on for the win. 

Roderick Lawrence led five Texans scoring in double figures with a team high 19 points and 11 rebounds.  Andre Spight and Sekou Harris chipped in with 17 and 16, respectively.  Ryan Martin added 14, while Michael Karena scored a season high12. 

The loss marks only the second time Texan head coach Steve Green has lost to the Bulldogs since taking over prior to the 2000 season.  Green – who sports a 21-2 record against Clarendon as SPC's coach – will again try to pick up his 500^th career victory when his team returns to action Monday, Feb. 17 vs New Mexico Military at 6:30 p.m. at the Texan Dome.  

WJCAC Scores:Clarendon 105, South Plains 94; New Mexico 68, Odessa 54; Howard 81, Frank Phillips 57; Western Texas 77, Midland 67.

South Plains (22-4, 9-3)
Andre Spight 6-21 1-2 17, Billydee Williams 2-7 2-2 8, Sekou Harris 6-10 2-2 16, Malik Nichols 0-2 0-0 0, Emmanuel Omogbo 3-5 2-4 8, Roderick Lawrence 6-15 3-5 19, Cedrick McAfee 0-0 0-0 0, Ryan Martin 5-9 4-4 14, Michael Karena 6-12 0-0 12, Pedro Konofino 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 34-82 14-19 94

Clarendon (8-17, 3-9)
D'Yonne Luke 1-3 0-0 2, Mario Garcia 2-6 4-4 10, Melvin Mitchell 6-9 4-4 20, Hershell Grant 9-12 2-2 22, Wyatt Sippy 0-1 0-0 0, Christian O'Neal 4-7 0-0 10, Nate Lewis 1-1 2-2 4, Tavon Alexander 5-9 3-4 14, DeAngelo James 3-5 2-3 8, Chiza Ntirata 6-8 3-6 15. Totals 37-61 20-25 105

FG%: South Plains .415, Clarendon .607. 3-pt FG:South Plains 12-39 (Spight 4-16, Williams 2-6, Harris 2-4, Omogbo 0-1, Lawrence 4-11, Konofino 0-1), Clarendon 11-24 (Luke 0-1, Garcia 2-5, Mitchell 4-6, Grant 2-4, Sippy 0-1, O'Neal 2-3, Alexander 1-2, James 0-1, Ntirata 0-1). Rebounds: South Plains 40 (Lawrence 11), Clarendon 27 (Ntirata 8). Fouls South Plains 20, Clarendon 14. Fouled out: Karena Alexander . Technical: Clarendon Coach. Assists: South Plains 18 (Harris 7), Clarendon 20 (Mitchell 6, Grant 6). Steals: South Plains 10 (Spight 3, Williams 3), Clarendon 9 (Grant 4). Blocked shots: South Plains 3 (Spight 3), Clarendon 2 (Lewis 1, Ntirata 1). Turnovers: South Plains 17, Clarendon 17.