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WTC sophomore Darius Mickens leaped for a dunk during WTC’s 93-38 win over Loyalty Prep Friday. Mickens scored 20 points in the win.
Just a few days after being named player of the week, Western Texas College (WTC) men’s basketball sophomore Darius Mickens scored 20 points to lead WTC past Loyalty Prep Wednesday, 93-38.
Mickens, a guard from Willis, shot 8-13 from the field, including 2-5 from 3-point range, and scored 20 points in a game for the second time in the last three games.
Freshman Ben Smith came off the bench to score 18 points, his career high. Smith also finished with six rebounds and three assists.
Sophomore Donavan Reagan scored 11 points and recorded two blocks and freshman Miles Bennett scored 10 points for his first double digit points game of his collegiate career. Freshman C.J. Smith finished with nine points and six rebounds.
As a team, WTC shot 45.1 percent from the field and limited Loyalty Prep to just 28.8 percent.
The Westerners grabbed the early lead, making the games’ first three shots to jump out to an early 7-1 lead and never looked back. After putting together a 40-point first half, the Westerners got even stronger in the second, scoring 52 to build one of their biggest leads of the season up to this point.
The 55-point differential was the highest yet in what has turned into an historic start to the season for WTC.
The Westerners are currently ranked No. 11 in the NJCAA national rankings, their highest ranking since the 2011 season. Their 10-0 record is their best to start the season in the past five years.
The Westerners are 10-0 as they prepare for a road clash with Temple College at 4 p.m. Saturday.