Despite a 22-point performance from freshman C.J. Smith, a late game layup resulted in Western Texas College men’s basketball team losing 63-61 to Howard College Thursday.
The Westerners put together a solid first half. Freshman Ben Smith scored the game’s first two points on a jump shot.
Howard College scored the next four points before WTC sophomore Darius Mickens layup tied it at 4-4.
Over the next four minutes neither team managed to find the basket. The Hawks finally broke the tie on a Darrell Green 3-pointer, sending them on a 6-0 run.
Both teams’ offenses began firing over the final five minutes of the half.
A pair of Smith 3-pointers gave WTC a 26-19 lead and back-to-back layups from Mickens and sophomore Donovan Reagan in the final minute gave WTC a 30-22 lead at halftime.
WTC continued to build on its lead to start the second half. Sophomore Tafari Simms hit a 3-pointer and scored seven points in the first five minutes to extend the lead to 41-31. Howard College cut into the lead with a 3 and a pair of free throws, but a Mickens’ steal and dunk kept the Westerners ahead.
Howard College began to surge in the final 7 minutes. A pair of 3-pointers with six minutes to go gave Howard College a 54-53 lead.
WTC’s Smith nailed another 3 with a minute and a half to go to tie the game at 58-58, but Howard College responded with a layup and a made free throw to reclaim the lead. With just 8 seconds to go, Mickens drew a foul while shooting a 3, resulting in three free throws. Mickens nailed all three, tying the game at 61-61.
With just three seconds left on the clock, Howard College’s Eric Reed made a layup to give the Hawks a 63-61 win.
The loss is the Westerners’ second straight. They will host Clarendon College at 7:30 p.m. Monday.
WTC statistics: C.J. Smith, 22 points, 4 assists, 3 steals; Darius Mickens, 12 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals; Tafari Simms, 12 points, 8 rebounds, 2 blocks; Ben Smith, 9 points, 9 rebounds; Donovan Reagan, 4 points, 4 rebounds; Corey Thelisme, 3 points, 2 rebounds
Howard College statistics: Klay Brown, 16 points, 9 rebounds; Tucson Redding, 16 points, 5 rebounds, 3 assists; Eric Reed Jr., 12 points, 4 rebounds; Lacey Watson, 11 points, 10 rebounds; Darrell Green, 3 points, 4 rebounds.