Tough defense by the Texans slowed down Midland's high octane offense for most of the first half, holding the Chaps to only six points in the first ten minutes. Unfortunately Midland was coming up with defensive plays as well, only allowing the Texans to score 12 points in the same span. A 21-8 run by the Chaps over the final ten minutes of the first half sent SPC to the locker room down 27-20.
Midland College came out in the second half, controlled the game and led by as many as 14 points at the midway point of the second half, 50-36.
The Texans then went on a 9-2 scoring run over the next three minutes to pull within seven points.
With just over five minutes remaining in the game, freshman point guard Eian Davis found himself on the floor after being barreled over by a Midland ball handler. The Chaps converted two points in the paint to take a 56-47 lead and SPC coach Steve Green called timeout, where he argued the no call and was eventually handed a technical foul, sending Midland's Ty Nurse to the free throw line, where he missed both attempts.
Coach Green's words to his team must have provided a spark as the next trip down the court sophomore Tramar Sutherland passed the ball to a swinging Bo Ingram who fired and connected on a deep three point attempt and was fouled by a Midland defender along the way to setup a potential four point play. Ingram converted the free throw to make the score 56-51 and fired up the Texan Dome crowd along the way.
The next trip down the court saw Ty Nurse sink a basket to extend the Midland lead to seven.
With four minutes remaining Sutherland sank a basket inside the paint and was fouled by Midland's Kenny Moore. Sutherland converted the free throw, pulling the Texans to within four points, 58-54.
Midland then scored on two consecutive trips down the hardwood to take a commanding eight point lead with only 3:09 remaining on the clock.
The Texans were not ready to concede to the top ranked Chaps as Myles Walker scored two of his 17 points with 2:52 to go in the game. Khaliq Gross then stole the ball from Midland's Brockeith Pane, who then fouled Gross to send him to the line.
Gross, shooting only 50-percent from the charity stripe for the season, sank both crucial free throws to again pull SPC within four points, 62-58.
Taking the inbounds and crossing the mid-court line, Pane again received intense pressure from Texan defenders, leading him to dribble the ball off his foot and knocking it out of bounds for another turnover.
Sutherland, hoping to make it a one possession ballgame, missed a three point attempt with 1:55 remaining. Midland's Darrell Williams rebounded the missed shot and eventually Pane found the ball in his hands again, but was called for charging to turn the ball back over to the Texans who called timeout to regroup.
After the timeout, the Texans moved the ball around the court until Walker finally was able to get open in the paint where he scored and was fouled along the way. The converted free throw made it a one point ball game, 62-61, with just over one minute remaining in the contest.
After a Chaparral timeout, Khaliq Gross found an opportunity to drive the lane and made an attempt to put the Texans on top. Gross' floater fell in, but the officials called him for charging, giving the ball back to Midland with only 47-seconds left on the clock. On the other end of the court Midland's Kenny Moore returned the favor and was called for an offensive foul with 35 seconds remaining. The Texans called their final timeout to prepare for what they hoped to be the final play of the night.
The Texans milked time off the clock until they were able to get the ball inside to Myles Walker with 15 seconds remaining. Walker pivoted and appeared to be getting ready to attempt a hook shot inside the paint when he tried to force the ball to Tramar Sutherland, but fell into the hands of Midland's Brockeith Pane instead. Khaliq Gross was able to foul Pane with six seconds remaining. Pane made the second of two free throw attempts.
With the final seconds ticking off the clock, point guard Eian Davis passed the ball across mid-court to Sutherland who heaved a desperation three that missed its mark and allowed the NJCAA number one ranked team to survive a scare from the Texans, 63-61.
South Plains College will look to end their two game skid on Thursday, February 11 when they travel to Snyder to face Western Texas College (13-9, 3-6) at 7:45 p.m. They game will be broadcasted live on KLVT 1230 AM and www.hprnetwork.com.