The New Mexico Military Institute Bronco men's basketball team put together a complete performance in the second half of play, earning their first conference win of the season by downing the visiting Howard College Hawks, 88-80.
"I thought we missed way too many free throws in the first half," said a relieved head coach Sean Schooley. "That along with a few too many turnovers. But we made the clutch free-throws down the stretch, and only had five turnovers in the second."
"Several of our guys really come forward and play well tonight," continued Schooley. "Yanis [Ndjonga] needed a conference game like that – he was outstanding. And what we've been waiting for all season, soild play from our guards. [Lucas] Henderson came to play. He crawled out of my doghouse and just really stepped up tonight. Keon Baker continues to play well, and tonight stayed within himself and within the system. Sometimes he tries to do too much because he is so gifted offensively. But it was really just a complete team effort tonight. Everyone that got in the game did well. Donovan Long battled and rumbled all night; JJ [Jonathan Joseph] and JB [Jonathan Burroughs] had significant contributions, offensively and defensively."
"We are just now starting to show what we are capable of doing," further explained the head coach. "We've figured out all kinds of ways to lose, but tonight we put some things together and won a tough one down the stretch, against a very good and well-coached Howard team. Just proud of the guys and the coaching staff."
With the win, the Broncos move to 9-10 overall and 1-3 in the Western Junior College Athletic Conference. The Hawks fall to 12-7 and 3-2.
Next up for the Broncs is a road-match on Thursday, Jan. 19, against the top team in the WJCAC standings, Odessa College, currently ranked No. 3 in the nation. Tip-off for that game is slated for 6:30 pm CST.
The next home game for NMMI will be Monday, Jan. 23 at 6:30 pm MST against the New Mexico Junior College Thunderbirds.