Peter Dindinger – NMMI Sports Press
BORGER, Texas – Fresh off their first conference win this past weekend, the New Mexico Military Institute Bronco basketball team battled the Frank Phillips College Plainsmen down to the final waning seconds.
Unfortunately, 19 turnovers hurt NMMI's chances at a comeback as it went on to suffer an 81-72 loss Monday night.
"I am very disappointed in our team's attitude and lack of leadership from my sophomores," said NMMI head coach Sean Schooley. "We were right there the whole time.
"We've got a long ways to go mentally. We're not thinking about our teammates, we're thinking about ourselves, and it showed."
After a pair of free throws made by John Mapiou, NMMI took a five-point lead early in the first half before the tables turned and the Plainsmen gained a two-point lead.
The see-saw battle began from that point on.
NMMI (2-3 overall, 1-1 Western Junior Athletic Conference) regained the lead by three until Frank Phillips surged ahead by six points with 5:20 left in the half.
A 3-pointer by Jeremiah Barr cut the deficit to two with 3:50 on the clock.
The Plainsmen then extended their lead to four before Andrew Bennett made a pair of free throws to bring the deficit back to two.
After the game was deadlocked at 36-all, Hugh Edmo landed a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Plainsmen a one-point lead heading into halftime.
Frank Phillips (8-2, 2-2) extended its lead to seven to start the second half before NMMI chiseled the deficit once again.
Khaleb Wilson-Rouse made a layup to put the Broncos behind by three with 12:05 left.
The Broncos eventually tied the game at 65-65 after Barr hit another 3-pointer with 4:57 on the clock. Frank Phillips answered back by taking a three-point lead.
Furaha Cadeaux de Dieu was sent to the free throw line and made two baskets to put NMMI within one with 3:55 remaining.
Some missed opportunities and turnovers then allowed Frank Phillips to increase its lead to seven. NMMI then began to foul to keep the game within reach but it was too little too late.
Barr led NMMI with 23 points while Wilson-Rouse had 14. Luis Riascos Varon added with nine points and Jordan Nelson tallied seven points and two rebounds.
Bennett also finished with seven points as he recorded a block and grabbed three rebounds.
NMMI shot 22 of 31 from the field and 20 of 42 from beyond the arc.
The Broncos will have to regroup quickly as they travel to Snyder, Texas, at 6:30 p.m. CST Thursday for a game against Western Texas College.
"My freshmen performed the best they could," Schooley said. "We're capable of doing a whole lot better. By now we should be wrapping up conference instead of just getting started.
"That's a difficult thing. Every game is such a learning curve. It's a hard thing to do for everybody."