Peter Dindinger – NMMI Sports Press
To start the condensed 2021 spring season, the New Mexico Military Institute Colt basketball team had two tough challenges right off the bat with Class 4A Artesia and 5A Roswell High.
On Monday night at the Coyote Den, NMMI battled a talented Roswell High squad but couldn’t keep up as it dropped a 77-46 decision.
The Coyotes led by 20 in the first half. Roswell High duo TJ Fletcher and Taymon Burrola accounted for 18 of the points.
NMMI trailed 47-21 at the half as Daniel Xibille scored six points, all in the first quarter, and Ricardo Mata added with five.
Roswell High’s Alonzo Acosta tallied 10 points in the third quarter to help the Coyotes outscore the Colts 23-11.
Trailing by 38 points, time wasn’t on NMMI’s side as the running clock was enforced in the final quarter of play.
With Roswell High’s starters pulled out of the game, it turned into a track meet between both teams.
Mata began to heat up for the Colts, scoring 12 points in the second half while knocking down a pair of three-pointers.
Despite outscoring the Coyotes 14-7 in the fourth quarter, NMMI couldn’t chisel down the 31-point deficit.
Mata led the Colts with 15 points while Xibille turned in 12 points despite having four fouls in the contest.
The Colt tandem accounted for four 3-pointers on the night.
Carlen Hailey scored four points before fouling out in the fourth quarter. Daniel Espenilla also added with four points.
NMMI shot 8 of 15 from the charity stripe.
Roswell High had four players score double digit figures as Burrola led the way with 18 points. Fletcher chipped in with 15 while Rhett Stokes and Acosta had 10 apiece.
The Coyotes knocked down four 3-pointers, all of which came in the first half.
NMMI travels to Portales for a 7 p.m. tip off on Tuesday, April 6. The Colts only have three home games this season, the first happening on April 13 against Loving at 6 p.m.
Roswell High 77, NMMI 46
NMMI (0-2)
Ricardo Mata 6 3-4 15, Jaikayo Brown 1 0-0 2, Carlen Hailey 2 0-0 4, Gaston Peralta 0 1-2 1, Daniel Xibille 4 2-5 12, Daniel Ridley 1 0-0 2, Pablo Davila 1 0-1 2, Isaiah Muniz 0 2-2 2, Emiliano Herrera 0 0-1 0, Daniel Espenilla 2 0-0 4. Totals 17 8-15 46.
ROSWELL HIGH (1-0)
Talon Sanders 3 0-0 6, Freddie Amaya 1 3-6 5, Rhett Stokes 4 0-0 10, Ivan Miramontes 2 0-0 4, Damian Morales 3 3-3 9, Alonzo Acosta 3 4-5 10, TJ Fletcher 7 0-0 15, Taymon Burrola 8 1-2 18. Totals 31 11-16 77.
NMMI……….10……11…..11…..14 -- 46
RHS…………..30…..17…..23……7 --- 77
3-point goals – NMMI 4 (Xibille 2, Mata 2); Roswell High 4 (Stokes 2, Fletcher 1, Burrola 1). Total fouls – NMMI 18, Roswell High 17. Fouled out – NMMI (Hailey). Technical fouls – None.