Westerners run past Frank Phillips in second half

Western Texas College started the second half on a 9-2 run to pull away from Frank Phillips College 84-59 in a Western Junior College Athletic Conference men’s basketball game at The Coliseum Thursday.
The Westerners took the lead for good, 29-27, on Sindou Diallo’s two free throws with 5:05 left in the first half and took a 41-37 lead into halftime.
Diallo, who had 16 points, was one of five Westerners in double figures. Jevon Brown had 14 points, plus nine rebounds, and Leland Kirkendoll added 13 points. Kirkendoll had six assists and three steals. Steven Allison and Nigel Allen scored 12 and 10 points, respectively.
“The players did a good job of coming out and playing with energy in the second half,” head coach Andre Owens said. “The trap and full-court press worked. We talked about that during halftime. We wanted to do that and the players did that.”
Owens liked how his three posts — Nehemie Wa Kabeya, Johnnie Jones and James Edwards — played.
“Nehemie had a good game with three blocks, seven rebounds and three dunks,” Owens said. “Jones was on pace for a good game, but he let his emotions get to him when he got the technical foul in the first half. Edwards had a good game, too. It helps when those guys play well.”
Kirkendoll and Allison also caught the coach’s attention.
“Leland had 13 points, six assists and five rebounds and he is only 5-9,” Owens said. “(Stephen) has a good attitude, a good work ethic and is a very good shooter.”
WTC’s first double digit lead was 55-45 with 16 minutes left in the game and it grew to 26 points in the final minutes.
Frank Phillips pulled to within five points before the Westerners finished the game with a 23-3 run.
“Every win counts and we are trying to get into the race for the regional tournament,” Owens said. “We need to protect the home court and see what we can do on the road.”
WTC (10-8, 2-5) will host New Mexico Military Institute at 6:30 p.m. Monday.
Frank Phillips College scorers — Marcus Brown 15, Marquise Kindel 9, Jonathan Akharoh 7, James McNeil 6, Paul Eromosele 6, Darvion Blackshear 6, Destiny Chikwem-Stanley 3, Mattia Cafisi 3, Demetrius Clark 2, Romario Spence 2.
WTC scorers — Sindou Diallo 16, Jevon Brown 14, Leland Kirkendoll 13, Steven Allison 12, Nigel Allen 10, Nehemie Wa Kabeya 6, James Edwards 6, Miles McDougal 3, Corey Thelisme 2, Johnnie Jones 2.
WTC statistics — Leland Kirkendoll  5 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals; Sindou Diallo 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal; Nigel Allen 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal; Jevon Brown 9 rebounds, 2 steals; Nehemie Wa Kabeya 7 rebounds, 1 steal, 3 blocked shots; James Edwards 7 rebounds, 1 blocked shot; Miles McDougal 4 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals; Carson Hammond 1 assist, 1 blocked shot.