NMJC holds off Western Texas, 69-62

HOBBS, N.M. — The New Mexico Junior College men's basketball team got back on the winning track and held off a late Western Texas College charge for a 69-62 victory Thursday at Caster Activity Center.

The Thunderbirds (12-5, 1-2), who had lost four of their last five, held a comfortable 49-34 lead with 10:12 left in the contest following a Nick Billingsley deep 3-pointer from the wing.

However, Western Texas (10-5, 1-2) rallied and used a 17-4 run to cut the T-Birds' lead to 53-51 with 5:18 left in the contest.

NMJC wouldn't relinquish the lead though as a strong cut to the basket and left-handed layup by Ray Barreno with 4:47 remaining took away much of the Westerners' momentum. A three-point play by Cullen Russo, a pull-up jumper by Malique Trent and a dunk by Desmond Medder helped put the game away for the T-Birds down the stretch.

NMJC shot 51.1 percent from the field while holding Western Texas to 41.5 percent. The T-Birds also outrebounded the Westerners 35-29.

Russo led NMJC with 13 points and eight rebounds. Medder had 12 points and three assists, Trent had 11 points and three assists while Billingsley finished with 10 points.

Shane Johnson led Western Texas with 14 points.

NMJC will try and even its WJCAC record Saturday when it travels to play South Plains College in Levelland, Texas.