#14 South Plains Has Enough To Get By #19 South Georgia Tech
Hutchinson, KS – South Plains, making their 6th consecutive appearance at Hutch, thirteenth overall, were two points better than South Georgia Tech in the first half, taking a 42-40 halftime advantage.
The Jets from Americus, GA, gave the Texans all they could handle in the second half as well, but in the end the higher seed wins again, this final was 88-80.
All seven first round games have gone to the home team, although three of them went into extra sessions.
South Plains got 28 points from Kieves “Duece” Turner, who doubled down on the Jets with 10 rebounds. Savion Gallion pumped in 15 points, with Eric Coleman, Jr and Jaden Harris finishing with 14 and 10. Malik Zachery was team high 10 boards.
The Texans (21-11) advance to the second round to face #3 Kilgore College (TX) on Wednesday, March 16, at 8:00.
With the loss, South Georgia Tech falls to 22-12. Leading scorer for the Jets was Will Johnston netting 21. Marvin McGhee was next with 20 and 8 boards. Malik Battle topped off with 11. Matija Milivojevic was chairman of the boards with game high 11.
SPC was out-shot from the field 47% to to 44, both teams shot identical 11-28 from behind the arc, but 17 turnovers and only 9-14 free throw shooting didn’t help the Jets cause. Tech’s largest lead was 9 half way into the first period. South Plains stretched a lead to 12 with just under 5 to play. The Texans lead never fell below seven after that, securing SPC another game in the 2022 tourney.
