The McLennan Highlanders opened the Region V Tournament with an 85-53 win over the New Mexico Thunderbirds at the Brownwood Coliseum.
The game was close through the first 14 minutes of play. McLennan led 24-22 with 5:50 to play in the first half. The Highlanders used an 11-0 run over the next three minutes to break the game open and take the 13-point lead, 35-22. McLennan extended the lead to 16 at the break, 40-24.
McLennan further extended the lead to 20 less than three minutes into the second half, 46-26. New Mexico trimmed the lead to 15, 49-34, with 14:25 remaining in the game. The Highlanders pulled away again and the Thunderbirds were unable to make a comeback.
Jerami Grace led the Highlanders with 30 points. Shannon Bogues and Aundre Jackson added 18 and 12, respectively. Fred Jackson scored 10 points. Fred Jackson and Aundre Jackson both recorded double doubles with 14 and 12 rebounds, respectively.
The Highlanders will face either Temple or Odessa at 2 p.m. Friday.
McLennan 85, New Mexico 53
New Mexico: Tyler Blount 3 0-0 6; Jalin Hart 4 0-0 10; Randy Haynes 4 3-3 11; Xavier Jackson 5 1-3 15; Devin Wyatt 2 0-0 4; El Hadji Dieng 2 0-0 4; Xavier Gomez 1 0-0 3; Totals: 21 4-8 53.
McLennan: Ben Nakwaasah 1 2-2 4; Antonio Wade 2 0-0 4; K.J. Boyd 1 2-2 4; Jerami Grace 12 3-6 30; Shannon Bogues 7 1-2 18; Aundre Jackson 5 1-1 12; Zach Charles 0 1-2 1; Fred Jackson 4 2-2 10; Ricky Curry 1 0-0 2; Totals: 33 12-17 85.
3-pointers: New Mexico 7 (Jackson 4, Hart 2, Gomez 1), McLennan 7 (Grace 3, Bogues 3, A. Jackson 1); Total fouls: New Mexico 12, McLennan 12; Halftime score: McLennan 40, New Mexico 24; Record: McLennan 27-4 (10-2).
