BASKETBALL: New Mexico JC upsets No. 11 Chaps
New Mexico Junior College rallied from a halftime deficit to upset the No. 11-ranked Midland College men’s basketball team, 62-56, at Caster Activity Center in Hobbs, New Mexico, on Thursday night.
By Oscar LeRoy
Midland Reporter-Telegram
HOBBS, NEW MEXICO - New Mexico Junior College rallied from a halftime deficit to upset the No. 11-ranked Midland College men's basketball team, 62-56, at Caster Activity Center in Hobbs, New Mexico, on Thursday night.
The Chaparrals (16-1, 2-1 in Western Junior College Athletic Conference) had a 26-22 halftime lead but NMJC (8-8, 1-1) battled back in the second half.
MC struggled from the floor in the second half as it shot just 30.3% and was just 1 of 14 from 3-point range. MC finished the game shooting only 2 of 19 from beyond the arc.
Keonte Jones had a big game for the Chaps with 27 points, 10 rebounds and five steals. Doug Young added 14 points but battled foul trouble for much of the night.
No other Chap scored in double figures.
NMJC, which was coming off a 92-89 loss to No. 3 Odessa College last Saturday, was 10 of 24 from 3-point range.
Micah Jones led the Thunderbirds with 21 points and hit five 3s. Antwaun Massey added 11 points and Josh Nwankwo had 10 for NMJC.
MC looks to bounce back at 7:30 p.m. Monday when it hosts Clarendon College at Chaparral Center.
Follow Oscar on Twitter: @OLeRoy_MRT
NEW MEXICO JC 62, NO. 11 MIDLAND COLLEGE 56
Midland College (16-1, 2-1) – Christian Villegas 1-8 0-0 2, Keonte Jones 8-10 10-13 27, Doug Young 7-12 0-0 14, Eric Grier 2, Xavier White 0-7 0-0 0, Roddrick Henry 1-3 2-4 4, Jaden Henderson 1-5 0-0 2, Jamil Bowles 2-6 0-0 5. Totals 21-57 12-17 56
New Mexico JC (8-8, 1-1) – Logan McLaughlin 1-8 5-5 8, Micah Jones 6-13 4-4 21, Josh Nwankwo 4-12 0-0 10, Antwaun Massey 4-8 1-2 11, Jeremiah Cherry 3-6 1-2 7, Mo Kora 0-3 0-0 0, Ikenna Ude-Smith 1-2 1-2 3, Cameron Kimble 0-5 2-2 2, Lewis Rowe 0-5 2-2 2. Totals 19-58 14-17 62
Halftime – MC 26, NMJC 22. 3-point goals – MC 2-19 (Jones 1-2, Bowles 1-3, Villegas 0-5, Young 0-3, Henderson 0-1), NMJC 10-24 (Jones 5-8, Nwankwo 2-7, Massey 2-4, McLaughlin 1-5). Total fouls – MC 15, NMJC 15. Fouled out – Cherry. Technial fouls – Henry. Rebounds – MC 34 (Jones 10), NMJC 36 (Massey 8). Assists – MC 4 (White 2), NMJC 9 (McLaughlin 5). Turnovers – MC 12, NMJC 14.
2022-23 WJCAC Men's Basketball Standings
| Conference | Overall | |||
| W | L | W | L | |
| Odessa College | 3 | 0 | 16 | 1 |
| Clarendon College | 2 | 1 | 14 | 3 |
| Howard College | 2 | 1 | 12 | 5 |
| Midland College | 2 | 1 | 16 | 1 |
| Frank Phillips College | 1 | 1 | 9 | 6 |
| New Mexico Junior College | 1 | 1 | 8 | 8 |
| South Plains College | 1 | 0 | 13 | 2 |
| New Mexico Military Institute | 0 | 3 | 7 | 10 |
| Western Texas College | 0 | 3 | 7 | 10 |
Thursday's Scores
New Mexico JC 62, Midland College 56; Odessa College 101, Western Texas College 66; Howard College 87, South Plains College 82; Clarendon College 83, New Mexico Military Institute 58; Frank Phillips College was open
Monday's Games
Clarendon College at Midland College; Howard College at New Mexico Military Institute; Frank Phillips College at South Plains College; New Mexico JC at Western Texas College; Odessa College is open