T-Birds Smoke Broncos in Sophomore Sendoff

The NMJC men's basketball team dismantled in-state rival New Mexico Military Institute 96-55 on sophomore night.

There weren't many fireworks in the first eight minutes of play. The Broncos even had the lead 12-10 at the 11:30 mark of the first half.

NMJC uncorked the game with a 14-1 run to take an 11-point lead, 24-13, with 8:10 left in the half. NMJC guard Chaydon Stone was a big part of that run, knocking down two 3-pointers. The T-Birds led by 15 points with three minutes left in the first half.

Deuce Benjamin hit three straight three pointers and Chaydon Stone knocked down another three to give NMJC a 47-22 advantage at the half. The Thunderbirds finished with eight three-point makes (57.1%) in the first half. 

The second half did not get any better for the Broncos. NMJC made six more 3-pointers and outscored NMMI 49-33 in the second. The Thunderbirds stomped the Broncos by 41 points and earned the 2-0 season sweep. 

The Thunderbird backcourt shot 11-of-16 from three-point land. Chaydon Stone was 6-of-7 from beyond the arc scoring 22 points. Deuce Benjamin matched that total of 22 points going 5-of-9 from three.

Luca Barei has continued to be an asset off the bench for NMJC. Barei recorded his first career double-double with 10 points and a career-high 12 rebounds. Elijah Bailey set a career-high in assists with 11 in the game. His final assist of the day was an electric alley-oop to Ayuel Ayuel with 33 seconds remaining in the game.   

The matchup against NMMI was the final time the NMJC sophomores would play in a Thunderbird uniform inside the Caster Activity Center. The T-Birds recognized 10 sophomores on Monday night prior to the first tip.

The NMJC sophomores moving on to four-year schools are Azavier Johnson, Chaydon Stone, Luca Barei, Elijah Bailey, Leo Torbor, Trey Harris, Antwaun Massey, Ayuel Ayuel, DJ Jamerson, and Jeremiah Cherry.

The Thunderbirds were 36-of-69 (52.2%) from the field, shot 14-for-26 (53.8%) from three, and 10-for-14 (71.4%) from the charity stripe. The T-Birds held the Broncos to 39.6% from the field.

NMJC moves to 22-7 (9-6) on the season and will face Clarendon College in the final regular season game of the year in Clarendon, Texas Thursday, March 7 at 7:30 p.m. CST.

The T-Birds are a half game behind Clarendon College (10-5) and a game ahead of Midland College (8-7) 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 March 14-16.