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Western Texas College’s Nigel Allen (10) makes a move to the basket against Midland College during Monday’s game. The Westerners lost to Midland College, 66-52.
Midland College picked the right time to increase the tempo.
The Chaps outscored Western Texas College 19-5 over the final six minutes to pull away for a 66-52 win in a men’s Western Junior College Athletic Conference basketball game Monday.
The Westerners (13-6, 2-4) lost their fourth consecutive game after starting the conference schedule with two wins.
“We were waiting and stayed too quiet on the bench and with our play on the floor,” WTC head coach Andre Owens said. “We were not thinking about winning, but playing not to lose. We folded up and let them take the game. Midland wanted it a little more than we did.”
The Chaps (6-14, 2-3) held a 37-25 rebounding advantage with 28 rebounds coming on the defensive end.
The Westerners made 21-of-55 field goals (38.2 percent), including 5-of-26 3-pointers (19.2 percent). Isaiah Boissard led WTC with 12 points.
“We missed a lot of shots,” Owens said. “It became more of a mentality thing when you lose this many games in a row.”
Midland College made 26-of-51 field goals (51 percent), including 6-of-17 3-pointers (35.1 percent). Marquell Fraser scored 24 points. Kayo Goncalves finished with 17 points while Kevin Kangu added 14 points.
In the first half, WTC built a 20-9 lead, but Midland cut the deficit to three points. The Westerners were able to rebound and take a 30-27 halftime lead.
The Westerners maintained the lead early in the second half, but Midland kept the game close. The Chaps tied the game three different times before Fraser’s 3-pointer gave Midland a 50-47 lead. The Chaps did not trail from that point.
WTC will play Frank Phillips College at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in Borger.
“We will have another tough game,” Owens said. “We need to turn this around.”
Midland College scorers — Marquell Fraser 24, Kayo Goncalves 17, Kevin Kangu 14, Jardin van der Korput 6, Amari Hale 5.
WTC scorers — Isaiah Boissard 12, Zac Saddler 9, Demarcus Hartfield 7, Miles McDougal 5, James Edwards 4, Nigel Allen 4, Ja’Niro Lane 4, Jordon Fullerton 3, Da’Rhon Mitchell 2, Johnnie Jones 2.
WTC statistics — Miles McDougal 2 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals; Isaiah Boissard 1 rebound, 1 assist; Zac Saddler 5 rebounds, 1 steal, 1 blocked shot; Da’Rhon Mitchell 3 rebounds; Demarcus Hartfield 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 blocked shot; Jordon Fullerton 5 rebounds, 1 assist; Ja’Niro Lane 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal; Johnnie Jones 3 rebounds.