Highlanders open conference with road victory over Southwestern Christian

It was a close battle between the Highlanders and Rams in the nightcap of the conference doubleheader with McLennan taking the 66-45 victory.
 
A Kirk Smith Jr. dunk less than 20 seconds into the game set the tone. Nehemiah Nuckolls added an underhand layup before a minute ticked away to give McLennan a 4-0 lead. Southwestern Christian's Isaiah Wyatt and a put back by Jordan Mays tied the game at four. The teams traded buckets and the Rams led 18-15 with 10:51 to play in the first half. A Maurice Harvey drive in the lane sparked a 12-0 run capped off by an Asare Otchere dunk to put McLennan up 27-18 with just under six minutes remaining in the half. Southwestern Christian rallied late to pull within two but McLennan would lead by five at halftime, 35-30.
 
McLennan opened the second half on a 7-0 run to give themselves a little breathing room. The Rams' shooting went cold, allowing the Highlanders to extend the lead to 20, 54-34, midway through the half. McLennan kept Southwestern Christian at arm's length for the remainder of the game to secure the conference victory.
 
Diego Gonzalez led the Highlanders with 17 points and Nehemiah Nuckolls added 11. Kirk Smith Jr. pulled down 11 rebounds on the night.

McLennan 66, Southwestern Christian 45
McLennan: Dillon Gooding 2 1-1 6; Amani Harris 1 0-0 3; Maurice Harvey 3 0-0 8; Nehemiah Nuckolls 4 2-2 11; Chris Pryor 1 0-0 2; Rayquan Brown 4 0-2 8; Diego Gonzalez 6 4-7 17; Asare Otchere 2 0-0 4; Ja'Kyrie Robinson 0 0-0 0; Kirk Smith Jr. 3 1-4 7; Totals: 26 6-16 66.
 
Southwestern Christian: Cory Hicks1 1-2 3; Trevon Stewart 3 0-0 8; Zelt Minor 0 0-0 0; Jordan Mays 2 0-2 4; Michael Williams  1 0-0 2; Kameron Hunter 0 0-0 0; Claven Wilson 5 2-2 13; Isaiah Wyatt 5 0-0 12; D'Queveus Adkins 1 0-0 3; Herman Key 0 0-0 0; Dezmond Bradley 0 0-0 0; Hilton Baker 0 0-0 0; Edwin Cooper 0 0-0 0; Totals: 18 3-6 45.
 
3-pointers: McLennan 6 (Harvey 2, Gooding 1, Harris 1, Nuckolls 1, Gonzalez 1), Southwestern Christian 6 (Stewart 2, Wyatt 2, Wilson 1, Adkins 1); Total fouls: McLennan 12, Southwestern Christian 18; Halftime score: McLennan 35, Southwestern Christian 30; Record: McLennan 7-0 (1-0).