Tough road test up next for Texan and Lady Texan basketball

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LEVELLAND, Texas – The South Plains College Texan and Lady Texan basketball teams return to the court Monday evening with tough tests on the road against New Mexico Junior College in Hobbs, N.M.  Tip-off is set for 6:45 p.m. central time for the women's game and 8:45 p.m. for the men and both games will be broadcast live at www.spctexans.com with KLVT's Michael Wiiest calling the action from courtside.  Fans can also listen to the game by tuning their radio to KLVT 1230 AM or online at www.klvtradio.com.

The defending NJCAA champion Texans – ranked eleventh in the latest NJCAA polls – are looking to rebound from a tough 68-65 home loss to eighth-ranked Howard College Saturday at the Texan Dome in which they relinquished a 13-point halftime lead.

 

Now, they must travel to the home court of the fifteenth-ranked T-Birds whose two losses have been by a combined three points.

 

New Mexico (14-2, 2-0) enters the game on a four game winning streak and defeated New Mexico Military 70-47 Saturday.  They lost to No. 10-ranked Coffeyville 65-63 on Nov. 17 and to Otero 71-70 in double-overtime Dec. 12. 

 

Texan head coach Steve Green has only lost to the T-Birds once since he took over at South Plains.

 

The Lady Texans (15-2, 2-0) enter Monday's contest on an eight-game winning streak and recently jumped into the NJCAA top-25 when they were ranked No. 20 in the latest polls. 

 

To extend their streak to nine games and continue their climb up the polls, South Plains will have to defeat the defending conference champions who also enjoyed Saturday off.

 

South Plains will be playing their third game in five days.

 

Head coach Michelle Wyatt owns a 13-4 record against the Lady T-Birds (12-2, 1-0), but lost each of the three games her squad played against New Mexico last season.

 

Following Monday's game, the Texans and Lady Texans will return to the Texan Dome Thursday, Jan. 17 when they host Western Texas College in a game sponsored by Best Western South Plains Inns and Suites.