T-Birds MBB Eliminates First-Half Deficit in Win Over Hawks

The NMJC men's basketball team erased a seven-point first-half deficit against Howard College to win 82-79.

The Thunderbirds encountered a slow start when they trailed 9-1 five minutes into the game. A Hawk three-pointer at the midway point of the first half extended the Howard lead to 10 points, 22-12. The Hawks led by as many as 13 down the stretch. NMJC closed the last four minutes of the half on a 12-6 run to enter halftime trailing just seven points, 41-34.

The Hawks maintained a seven-point advantage, 49-42, following a three-pointer by Zaiden Cross. The T-Birds used two dunks, a 3-pointer, and two free throws to take a two-point lead, 51-49, with 12:56 remaining in the second half.

Later in the game, Leo Torbor made back-to-back buckets to give NMJC a 74-67 lead with 4:25 left. The Thunderbirds clung to a three-point lead, 80-77, with one minute remaining following a Howard layup. 

The Hawks tried to tie the game up with a left corner three that went off the side of the basket. Luca Barei came up with the rebound and threw it ahead to center Jeremiah Cherry who emphatically dunked the ball with 15 seconds to seal the game. Howard would score one more basket and fell by three points, 82-79.

The Thunderbirds finished with five players in double figures in the three-point win over the Hawks.

Chaydon Stone made three shots from downtown to end the night with 13 points.  Leo Torbor and Luca Barei both finished with 10 points for the second straight game. Torbor also had four steals, four assists, and four rebounds.

Jeremiah Cherry added 10 points and five boards in the win Monday night. Deuce Benjamin ended the evening with 17 points off the bench, 10 of which came from the line.

The game featured seven technical fouls with four given to Howard and three to the T-Birds.

The Thunderbirds were 27-of-62 (43.5%) from the field, shot 6-for-21 (28.6%) from beyond the arc, and 22-for-32 (68.8%) from the line.

NMJC moves up to 19-7 (6-6) on the season and will play Midland College in Midland, Texas Thursday, Feb. 22 at 7:30 p.m. CST.

The T-Birds are a half game behind Midland (6-5) and Clarendon (6-5) for the third and fourth spots in the WJCAC. The top four teams from the conference make it to the Region V tournament in Weatherford, Texas.