Peter Dindinger – NMMI Sports Press

The rust is continuing to shake off for the Bronco basketball team.

Chris Bready had a solid performance for the New Mexico Military Institute, scoring 21 points in the contest, 16 in the second half, to help lift the Broncos over Strength 'N Motion 90-51 on Tuesday afternoon at the Godfrey Athletic Center.

Bready was one of three Broncos to tally double-digit figures as Reginald Ward chipped in with 19 points and Luis Riascos Varon added with 12.

The tune up games are helping prepare NMMI (8-6) for the remainder of the conference season, which resumes at 6:30 p.m. Thursday as the Broncos host Clarendon College.

"We wanted to hold them under 60 points. We keep shaking the rust off," said NMMI head coach Sean Schooley. "We still got a way to go. I was really pleased with everybody.

"It's all about getting ready for Thursday. It's on. There's no place to hide. I think these two games helped us."

John Mapiou gave the Broncos the 2-0 lead with a pair of free throws.

Strength 'N Motion forced the only tie of the game after a shot by Brazoes Bledose.

The Broncos went on an 8-2 run that was fueled by a pair of three-pointers by Bready and Jerry Kabantu. Varon also got a three-point play after getting fouled on a made layup.

Jordan Nelson continued the run with a bucket in the paint to make the score 13-4 with 13:08 on the clock.

NMMI's offense got a three-pointer by Isaiah Williams that came off an assist by Kabantu to help extend the lead to nine.

Off another assist by Kabantu, Ward hit a clutch trey to increase NMMI's lead to 13 points.

Mapiou grabbed a steal on an inbound pass which was capped off with a layup later on.

Ward tallied the final four points of the half to give the Broncos the 26-point lead at the break. Mapiou, Ward and Varon all had seven points.

The second half belonged to Bready, who put on an offensive clinic.

Still holding on to a 26-point lead, Bready accounted for five quick points which included a three-pointer with 8:19 on the clock.

NMMI went on an 8-0 run that also included a three-pointer by Ward to increase the lead to 34 points.

In five and a half minutes, the Broncos scored 20 points to put the finishing touches on Strength 'N Motion.

Bready created a 7-0 run after knocking down a long-range three-pointer with 4:30 left to go.

Mapiou added with two assists that resulted in a pair of dunks by Nadjrick Peat and Williams which fueled a late 6-0 run.

Williams, Peat and Mapiou all finished with eight points apiece for the Broncos.

Ward scored 12 of his 19 points in the second half. NMMI shot 17 for 28 from the charity stripe while making seven shots from beyond the arc.

Schooley credits assistant coach Kennedy Miller for designing a solid defensive game plan every week.

Bready recently picked up a Division I offer from Coastal Carolina. He's been a driving force in NMMI's offense thus far.

"The thing that people quite don't understand or know about Chris is what a great person he is," Schooley said about Bready. "He's the full package. He's what you want on your team."

Strength 'N Motion was led by Desmond Green with 14 points. Ten of his total points came in the second half.

Isaiah Street finished with nine points, all coming in the second half.

Strength 'N Motion shot 7 of 17 from the free throw line.

NMMI 90, Strength 'N Motion 51

Strength 'N Motion

Nasir Hammonds 3 1-2 8, Aubrey Johnson 2 2-4 6, Brazoes Bledsoe 2 0-0 4, Jowan Simpraja 1 0-0 2, Desmond Green 7 0-0 14, Don Escobar 1 0-2 3, Chidy Ugoala 1 3-6 5, Isaiah Street 4 1-3 9. Totals 21 7-17 51.

NMMI (9-6)

Chris Bready 9 0-0 21, Isaiah Williams 2 3-4 8, Jordan Nelson 2 0-2 4, Nadjrick Peat 3 2-3 8, Jay'veon Coleman 1 0-0 2, Amiri Crowder 1 0-0 2, Luis Riascos Varon 4 4-5 12, Reginald Ward 7 3-4 19, Uros Stikovic 0 1-4 1, Jerry Kabantu 2 0-0 5, John Mapiou 2 4-6 8. Totals 33 17-28 90.

SNM……….17……34 --- 51
NMMI…….43……47 --- 90

3-point goals – NMMI 7 (Bready 3, Ward 2, Williams 1, Kabantu 1); Strength N' Motion 2 (Hammonds 1, Escobar 1). Total fouls – NMMI 13, Strength N' Motion 20. Fouled out – None. Technical fouls – NMMI (Williams).