Jevon Brown led the outside game while Johnnie Jones controlled the inside as the Western Texas College Westerners held off Strength in Motion Post Grad 84-75 in a non-conference basketball game at The Coliseum Thursday.
“It is difficult to play back-to-back games, but we are at home and needed the games to shake off rust from not playing for a month,” WTC head coach Andre Owens said of Wednesday’s game against Loyalty Prep and Thursday’s win. “We came ready to play and did good things.”
Brown scored 19 points, with eight rebounds, four assists and two steals. Jones had 14 points, 16 rebounds and two blocked shots. Sindou Diallo finished with 12 points and Carson Hammond added 10 points.
“Jones had another big game,” Owens said. “He is a sophomore and we depend on players like him. Jevon is focusing on doing the little things and it’s showing with his numbers. Hopefully he will keep that up. Nehemie Wa Kabeya came off the bench and had eight rebounds.”
WTC (8-4) started the game by scoring eight consecutive points on three-point plays by Brown and Jones and a Brown field goal. Strength in Motion responded with a 16-8 run and tied the game at 16-16 midway through the first half.
Deshawn Kelley made two free throws as the Westerners regained the lead and never trailed again.
WTC finished the first half by outscoring Strength in Motion 29-19 to take a 47-35 halftime lead.
WTC increased the lead to 18 points in the second half. Strength in Motion pulled to within nine points with six minutes left in the game.
“We need to take better care of the ball,” Owens said of his team’s 27 turnovers. “We had an 18-point lead, but too many turnovers. We can’t do that and win on the road. We have been focusing on that in practice. We did shoot free throws (25-of-29) well.”
Owens said playing fewer non-conference games may benefit the team during conference play.
“I believe we are fresher,” he said. “The players understand more what is going on. We will continue to focus on rebounding and holding teams to one shot, plus taking better care of the ball. They are some of the areas we need improvement to do well in conference.”
WTC, which lost to Howard College in its conference opener last month, returns to league play at Clarendon College Monday.
“We will practice Saturday and Sunday before going to Clarendon,” Owens said. “It will be a tough game. This is the start of the Monday-Thursday grind. I feel good about our chances in conference. We need to find a way to win on the road.”
Strength in Motion scorers — Cameron Bush 21, Jacob Harvey 13, Naequan Tomlin 9, Naequan Tomlin 9, Raul Agular 8, Maliq Nuerell 8, Cameron Walker 5, Hugo Florestedt 2.
WTC scorers — Jevon Brown 19, Johnnie Jones 14, Sindou Diallo 12, Carson Hammond 10, Nigel Allen 7, Miles McDougal 5, Corey Thelisme 4, Nehemie Wa Kabeya 4, Deshawn Kelly 2, Steven Allison 2, Kolbe Littlefield 2.
WTC statistics — Miles McDougal 1 rebound, 4 assists; Sindou Diallo 6 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 blocked shot; Jevon Brown 8 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals; Johnnie Jones 16 rebounds, 2 blocked shots; Carson Hammond 3 rebounds, 1 assist; James Edwards 2 assists, 3 steals; Nigel Allen 2 assists, 1 steal; Steven Allison 1 rebound, 2 assists; Corey Thelisme 1 rebound; Nehemie Wa Kabeya 8 rebounds, 2 assists.