LEVELLAND — Issac Taveras scored a game-high 22 points while also grabbing seven rebounds Friday night as No. 17 South Plains pummeled Temple 88-53 at the Texan Dome.

 

The Texans get back in the win column and improve to 6-3 on the season with Friday's victory. South Plains will return to the floor on Saturday when they play host to Dallas College-North Lake at 2 p.m. at the Dome.

 

"We put an emphasis in practice on defense, and we feel like we improved today," Taveras said. "In basketball, you have to stay positive, put things behind you, and figure out ways to win. We lost a couple of games and had a few guys go down with injuries, and I'm going to do whatever I need to do to win and help this team."

 

Taveras finished eight of 11 from the field and was four of five from the free throw line over 24 minutes. Devontes Cobbs tallied 13 points and seven boards for South Plains, while Clarence Payia netted 11 over 20 minutes. IJ Ezuma chipped in 10 points and snagged six boards off the bench as the Texans shot a 46.3 percent clip from the field and outrebounded the Leopards 60-31 on the glass.

 

"Injuries are a part of this game, and we got some critical guys back tonight," South Plains head coach Hayden Sowers said. "When you get your floor general back, it makes everything you're trying to do on the floor easier. But, regardless of who was out there, the three we lost, we had zero effort and zero toughness – and that's not what South Plains is about. As long as we learn from the early season losses and get back fully healthy and rolling, I feel like we are one of the best teams in the country."