South Plains went cold just past the midway point of the first half, scoring their last field goal on a Devonte Smith drive with 9:40 remaining.
The T-Birds closed out the first half on a 27-1 scoring run that turned their 12-point deficit into a 34-20 advantage as the two teams went to the locker room.
Eleventh-ranked South Plains (13-4, 2-2) could never restore the momentum they had to begin the game and would only get to within 11 as they fell to New Mexico 60-47 Monday night.
The T-Birds – fifteenth in the latest NJCAA polls - improve to 15-2 overall and 2-0 in the Western Junior College Athletic Conference.
Ryan Martin led SPC with 13 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocked shots.
After losing four of their last seven games, South Plains will now look to get back on track when they return to the Texan Dome to host Western Texas College (12-6, 2-2) at 7:45 p.m. Thursday night in a game sponsored by Best Western South Plains Inns and Suites of Levelland.
Best Western has donated a variety of gift cards that will be given away to fans during halftime of the game as well as t-shirts that will be thrown to the crowd by the Texan Cheerleaders.
Live video of Thursday's game will be available at www.spctexans.com, with KLVT Radio's Michael Wiiest calling the action. Wiiest can also be heard on the radio at KLVT 1230 AM or online at www.klvtradio.com.
South Plains (13-4, 2-2)
Terrence Durham 1-3 0-0 2, Yanick Moreira 4-10 1-3 9, Jamaal Samuel 0-1 0-0 0, Darrel Lucky 1-4 0-0 2, Devonte Smith 2-4 1-2 5, Malik Nichols 0-0 0-0 0, Kendahl Amerson 2-4 0-1 4, Roderick Lawrence 3-7 0-0 8, Brandon Neel 0-2 0-0 0, J.R. Owens 0-0 0-0 0, Ryan Martin 5-5 3-7 13, Michael Karena 2-3 0-0 4. Totals 20-43 5-13 47
NMJC (15-2, 3-0 )
Devin Patterson 1-3 0-0 2, Jeff Neverson 2-3 0-0 4, Desmond Lee 4-14 10-13 18, Alexander Ovcharenko 2-4 0-0 6, Rob Turner 2-6 1-2 5, Rashaun Madison 0-0 0-0 0, Dekabriean Eldridge 3-8 5-8 11, Ramon Eaton 1-3 2-2 5, Chris Dees 1-2 0-2 2, Jaqwaylon Davenport 1-5 5-6 7. Totals 17-48 23-33 60
SCORE BY PERIODS 1st 2nd TOTAL
South Plains 20 27 47
NMJC 34 26 60
FG%: South Plains .465, NMJC .354. 3-pt FG:South Plains 2-13 (Durham 0-2, Moreira 0-1, Samuel 0-1, Lucky 0-1, Smith 0-1, Amerson 0-2, Lawrence 2-4, Neel 0-1), NMJC 3-12 (Neverson 0-1, Lee 0-1, Ovcharenko 2-4, Turner 0-1, Eldridge 0-2, Eaton 1-3). Rebounds: South Plains 35 (Martin 10), NMJC 30 (Davenport 6). Fouls South Plains 28, NMJC 16. Fouled out: Martin Amerson . Technical: none. Assists: South Plains 7 (Smith 3), NMJC 7 (Turner 3). Steals: South Plains 5 (Moreira 2), NMJC 11 (Eldridge 4). Blocked shots: South Plains 4 (Martin 3), NMJC 1 (Patterson 1). Turnovers: South Plains 26, NMJC 15.