LEVELLAND – The Texan and Lady Texan basketball teams enjoyed a rare Monday off this week, but will soon be getting back to the grind of basketball competition that will start Thursday in Odessa at the OC Sports Complex.

Tip-off is set for 5:45 p.m. for the ladies and 7:45 p.m. for the men's game and will be streamed live over the Internet at www.spctexans.com.  Fans can also tune in over the air on KLVT 1230 AM.

Since they did not have to play Monday, the SPC men and women should be somewhat rested following a barrage of tough games that started the season.

Entering the week as the NJCAA's sixteenth-ranked team, the Lady Texans began the conference season with wins over Midland and Howard, but then came up just short when they rallied at New Mexico Monday, Jan. 14.  In their last game, the Lady Texans improved their record to 16-3 overall and 3-1 in the Western Junior College Athletic Conference with a 62-50 victory over Western Texas, and find themselves only a single game out of first place.

The No. 23-ranked Lady Wranglers (14-4, 4-1 WJCAC) most recently defeated Howard 56-47, rebounding from a 75-60 setback at Midland Jan. 14.

The No. 24-ranked Texans (14-4, 3-2 WJCAC) will try to hand Odessa (15-4, 5-1) their second straight loss Thursday night.  The Wranglers had a nine game winning streak snapped when they were thumped by Howard, 77-64, Monday night.

South Plains opened league play with victories over New Mexico Military and Midland.  They appeared to be headed for a 3-0 start before giving up a 13-point halftime lead to Howard in a game South Plains ultimately dropped, 68-65.  New Mexico handed South Plains another loss in their next game, two days later.

The Texans bounced back with a 20-point victory against Western Texas last Thursday and can keep themselves in the thick of the conference race by beating Odessa.

Michael Wiiest will call the action from courtside live from Odessa.  The Texans and Lady Texans will return to the Texan Dome Monday, Jan. 28 when they host Frank Phillips College in a pair of games sponsored by the Holiday Inn Express of Levelland.