NMMI Sports Press

Despite a 10-0 run to start the final period, the New Mexico Military Institute Colt basketball team couldn’t quite complete the comeback against the visiting Loving Falcons, 46-37.

This was the third meeting between the two squads – one win each – and the Falcons came out shooting hot, outscoring NMMI 19-9 in the first period. Loving senior guard – who tied for the game-high scoring spot with Colt junior guard Lorenzo Peral, each with 14 – went 5-for-6 in the stanza, including a pair of treys.

Solid Institute defense helped cut Loving’s lead in a low-scoring second. NMMI won the period 7-4 with junior forward Cole Seidenberger leading the offense with three of his nine points in the game, to make it 23-16 at the half.

High-perecentage shots in the third helped Loving increase that lead in the third with four different players combining for 13 points and a 6-for-10 shooting percentage. NMMI went 3-for-13 in the same frame, led by senior forward Ian Thompson’s three points on a close-range shot from the field and a free throw. Thompson finished with seven points in the game.

Trailing by thirteen, 36-23, going into the fourth, the Colts made a huge 10-0 run, making it a three-point game. The Falcons, however, responded with their own 6-0 run to keep the game out of reach. NMMI finished with 14 points in the quarter lead by senior point guard Steven Griego’s three from behind the arc.

With the loss, the Falcons improve to 10-7 on the season while NMMI falls to 9-7.

Next up for the Colts will be in-town rival Goddard High on Tuesday, Jan. 30 at 6:30 pm in the Ground Zero gym. NMMI’s next home game will be Thursday, Feb. 1 in the Cahoon Armory at 5:00 pm vs. Hot Spring High School.