LEVELLAND—After compiling one of the most dominant regular seasons in program history, the South Plains College Texans will enter the NJCAA Region V Tournament as the top-ranked team in the country thanks to a perfect 28-0 record to date including a 16-0 mark in the Western Junior College Athletic Conference.
The Texans come into the tournament, which will be held at Frenship's Tiger Pit on March 8-11, as the No. 1 seed in the West. South Plains will matchup against the No. 4 seed out of the North in Hill College at 8 p.m. on Thursday, March 9.
South Plains enters the postseason as one of the top scoring offenses in the country, ranking eighth in the NJCAA with 98.4 points per game. The Texans are shooting 52.2 percent from the floor which ranks fourth amongst all teams, and ninth in 3-point percentage with a 40.6 mark from beyond the arc.
The Texans are battle tested to date, holding four wins over teams currently ranked inside the top 25 in the latest NJCAA polls. South Plains began the season with an 110-74 dismantling over then-No. 3 Trinity Valley on Nov. 6 in Lewisville. The Texans also hold double-digit wins over No. 17 Odessa and No. 24 Snow College.
Sophomore Jordan Brangers will lead the Texans' offensive attack as the Radcliff, Kentucky native is averaging 21.8 points per game and is ranked first in the country in 3-pointers made with 130. Brangers also ranks 10th in total points with 611 and scored in double-figures in 25 of his 26 appearances this season.
South Plains will also look to Roberto Gallinat and Jahlil Tripp on the offensive end. Gallinat is second on the team with a 12.3 points per game average while Tripp continues to progress as one of the top freshman in the country. A native of Brooklyn, NY, Tripp is averaging 11.4 points per game and has showcased the ability to produce from the perimeter as well as establish himself inside the paint for the Texans as needed.
Hill comes into Thursday's matchup with an 18-10 overall record and a 5-7 record in conference play. The Rebels are led by sophomore Davion Turner and freshman Jacques Lukusa. Turner leads the Rebels in scoring with 12.8 points per game shooting 49 percent from the field this season. Lukusa is averaging 11 points per game and is second on the team with 2.6 assists per game.
Should the Texans come out victorious on Thursday, they will await a matchup with either Western Texas or Temple at 8 p.m. on March 10. You can watch the Texans compete for a Regional crown at www.psblive.tv, or by visiting spctexans.com and using the 'Watch Games' tab at the of the page. You can also find tournament brackets by visiting spctexans.com and navigating to the 'Region 5' tournament tab at the top of the page.
Region V Brackets: http://static.psbin.com/o/q/1tbv4cqe08ak4x/Regional_Brackets_Combined_.pdf