Midland College Basketball

Midland College Chaps vs New Mexico Junior College Thunderbirds

Thursday, February 20, 2025

Hobbs, NM

The No. 15 Midland College Chaparrals will need to improve defensively as they close in on a post-season berth.  Starting with an expected tough game versus NMJC tonight in Hobbs, NM.  The Chaps are 8-3 in the WJCAC, tied for second place in the conference standings along with Frank Phillips College.  The FPC Plainsmen and Chaparrals are each 1.5 games back of conference leader South Plains College.  

The NMJC Thunderbirds are 6-6 in conference, good for 5th place, and a game behind Odessa College for the fourth playoff spot.  Midland College will need to perform on both ends of the court versus NMJC.  The Thunderbirds are capable of strong offensive outbursts as they average 80.3 points per game.  The Chaparrals, for their part, are also capable of scoring at a high rate with an 84.5 ppg average this season. 

MC has lost three of their last four games, all three versus teams that are, or were at the time, ranked in the NJCAA Top 25.  The exception being a narrow three-point win versus Howard College in Big Spring on February 10th.  

Midland College has received scoring from five players, who each average in double-digits this season.  Sophomore Trey Clarke leads the Chaps at 16.3 points per contest.  If the Chaps can score from the perimeter, they are a formidable team to defend.  Additionally, MC must outrebound NMJC.  The Chaps average nearly 14 more rebounds in wins than they do in their seven losses this season.  

The Chaps will return home for a game on Monday, February 24th @ 6:00 p.m. versus the New Mexico Military Institute Broncos.  

Go Chaps!