Peter Dindinger – NMMI Sports Press
Things are beginning to heat up for the Colt basketball team during the most important part of the season.
Behind 18 points by Matthew McCargish, the New Mexico Military Institute dominated the second half to cruise to a 51-37 victory over the Dexter Demons on Tuesday night at the Godfrey Athletic Center.
With just two District 4-3A games remaining, the Colts control their own destiny.
NMMI got off to a hot start, going on an 8-0 run. Four of the eight points came off free throws while Juan Ruelas had five points in the first four and a half minutes.
The Demons finally got on the board with 2:12 left in the opening quarter when Brandon Calderon made a pair of free throws.
Emilio Herrera landed a shot in the paint to put the Colts back up to an eight-point lead.
A three-pointer by Calderon later cut the deficit to three to end the first quarter.
NMMI had led by as much as seven points in the second frame before the Demons turned the tables to take a four-point lead at the break.
Dexter used a 9-0 run to rally back.
The Demons extended their lead to six with 7:01 in the third quarter. McCargish got six points for the Colts to tie up the game at 28-all.
McCargish scored eight points in a span of two minutes to help put NMMI back on top by a score of 30-28.
Jorge Najera landed a two-pointer to tie up the game with 5:17 left in the quarter.
McCargish then put the Colts ahead by three after getting fouled on a made shot and making a free throw.
Ruelas hit a clutch three-pointer that extended NMMI’s lead to six.
Off an assist by Humberto Romero, Nicolas Cho made a bucket to make the score 39-32 in favor of the Colts.
Dexter’s offense went cold in the second half as it was held to six and five points in the third and fourth quarters, respectively.
NMMI went on to outscore the Demons 29-11 in the second half.
McCargish stayed hot as he gave the Colts a nine-point lead with eight minutes in the final quarter.
Dexter got a three-pointer from Najera that made the score 41-35, but NMMI answered with a trey from Romero that came off an assist by Jose Donnadieu.
The Colts closed out the game on a 7-0 run.
NMMI grabbed 44 rebounds compared to 27 for Dexter. Donnadieu had 12 rebounds and three blocks while Herrera came down with seven boards.
McCargish and Romero each had six boards.
Ruelas chipped in with 10 points while Donnadieu had seven. Herrera and Romero each finished with six points.
The Colts went 15 for 22 from the free throw line. McCargish shot 6 of 7 from the line.
Dexter struggled all night, shooting 25 percent from the field. Calderon and Najera led the Demons with 10 points each.
>> UP NEXT: NMMI hosts Hagerman at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 9 for a non-district game.
NMMI 51, Dexter 37
DEXTER (4-12, 1-1)
Brandon Calderon 3 3-7 10, Joshua Duran 2 2-2 6, Jorge Najera 3 3-4 10, Edgar Lopez 2 3-4 7, Julian Sanchez 1 0-0 2, Kevin Villalobos 1 0-0 2. Totals 12 11-18 37.
NMMI (4-9, 2-0)
Lance Miller 1 0-0 2, Juan Ruelas 3 3-4 10, Jose Donnadieu 2 3-4 7, Emilio Herrera 2 2-5 6, Matthew McCargish 6 6-7 18, Humberto Romero 2 1-1 6, Nicolas Cho 1 0-1 2. Totals 17 15-22 51.
DEXTE………7…….19…..6…..5 --- 37
NMMI……..10……12….17…..12 --- 51
3-point goals – NMMI 2 (Ruelas, Romero); Dexter 2 (Calderon, Najera). Rebounds — NMMI 44 (Donnadieu 12, Herrera 7, McCargish 6, Romero 6); Dexter 27 (Lopez 5). Assists — NMMI 8 (Romero 4); Dexter 2 (Calderon, Emmanuel Cardenas). Total fouls – Dexter 19, NMMI 18. Fouled out – None. Technical fouls – None.