In a game that was close from start to finish, it was no surprise that it took more than 40 minutes to settle the score between Odessa College and Midland College.
In the end, it was Odessa College that prevailed as the Wranglers survived a 76-74 win in overtime against the No. 5 team in the country.
With the win, the Wranglers improved to 17-6 overall, 6-3 in Western Junior College Athletic Conference while Midland College fell to 17-6, 7-2.
The game marked the start of the second half of WJCAC play and the Wranglers were able to avenge their loss to Midland College last month at home.
“It’s a Midland-Odessa matchup,” Odessa College head coach Kris Baumann said. “That’s what happens when two good rivals meet up and play great basketball … We beat a good basketball team. We grew up a little bit tonight. We could’ve made some free throws to make things easier for us but we gutted one out. Like I said, they’re a good team. They beat us at home pretty good and I was glad we were able to come here and get a win.”
Both teams were tied at 68-68 at the end of regulation.
The game still remained close throughout overtime.
A basket by Midland College’s Jaden Kempson gave tied the game at 74-74 with 49 seconds left.
With 30.29 seconds left Odessa College’s Anthony Simo was sent to the line after being fouled by Derelle Desire where he went 1-of-2 from that trip for a 75-74 Odessa College lead.
A turnover by Midland College with 11 seconds left proved to be the difference-maker.
Bradford was then fouled and sent to the line where he missed the first shot but made the second for a 76-74 Wrangler lead.
A timeout was called in between free throws.
“I told the guys to just be disciplined,” Baumann said. “We knew they were going to run a really good play. But I thought we did a good job of maintaining our discipline.”
A missed shot by Midland College’s Trey Clarke as the buzzer expired saw the Wranglers escape with a 76-64 win.
Odessa College was led in scoring by Jaiden Reynolds and Ahmere Carson as both players had 24 points while Samarion Bond had 12.
As a team, the Wranglers shot 28-of-60 from the field, 9-of-24 from 3-pointers and 11-of-24 on free throws.
The Chaparrals were led by Antoine Hurns’ 23 points while Desire and Kempson each had 13.
Midland College shot 26-of-59 on field goals and 4-of-16 on 3-pointers while going 18-of-23 on free throws.
Late in the second half, Carson made a crucial 3-pointer while getting fouled by Kempson with 1:07 left.
Carson wasn’t able to complete the four-point play as his free throw bounced off the side of the rim and was rebounded by Kempson.
That soon led to a go-ahead basket by Clarke before a timeout was called with the Chaparrals ahead 68-67 with 45.92 seconds left.
Seconds later, Kempson was called for another foul and sent Carson back to the line where he was able to make one of two shots to tie the game.
A turnover by Clarke gave OC possession with only 3.71 seconds left in regulation and the game would go into overtime where Odessa College ended up suriving.
The game was close from the start.
A layup by Hurns tied the game at 9-9 with 14:54 left in the first half before the media timeout.
A slam-dunk by Trey Clarke gave the Chaparrals a 17-12 lead with 12:15 remaining.
However, both teams continued to trade baskets and the Chaparrals had a 21-19 lead with 9:59 left.
The Wranglers took the lead after a 3-pointer by Carson.
Carson was soon fouled by James Johnson and made both shots from the line for a 24-21 lead.
A jump shot by Bradford extended the Wranglers’ lead at the 8:08 mark.
The Chaparrals responded with a quick 4-0 run.
Midland College scored off an outside shot by Antoine Hurns to tie the game at 28 with 6:18 remaining.
Odessa College regained its momentum before the half as Reynolds’ 3-pointer gave the Wranglers a 43-36 lead with less than a minute remaining.
Carson added a layup before the halftime buzzer and Odessa College led 45-36 at the break.
Midland College used an 8-2 run to begin the second half.
A 3-pointer by Clarke tied the game with 15:19 remaining in regulation.
Kempson was soon sent to the line after being fouled by Odessa College’s Bond and he made both free throws count to give the hosts the first lead of the half.
The Wranglers’ response was a quick 4-0 run for a 51-49 lead right before the media timeout.
The half continued to be a back-and-forth affair as Midland College’s lead was only 58-56 with 9:02 left.
A tip in by Jason Robinson put the Wranglers ahead 62-60 with 4:20 left.
Hunter Duncan was sent to the line after being fouled by Robert Dix but he missed both free throws, keeping the Wranglers at only a two-point lead.
Hurns was soon sent to the line and he capitalized on both shots, tying the game up at 62 with 2:56 left.
The game continued to remain close as the final minutes in regulation ticked away.
Next up for Odessa College is a 7:30 p.m. Monday home game against Frank Phillips College at the OC Sports Center.
Midland College will next face Howard College in a 7:30 p.m. Monday road game in Big Spring.
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