Wrangler Men open WJCAC play with victory over Frank Phillips College

The Odessa College men's basketball team extended its current winning streak to seven games with an 88-57 victory against Frank Phillips College Wednesday at the OC Sports Center.

James Reese, Jonas Parker and Anthony Johnson all finished with 12 points to lead the Wranglers in the Western Junior College Athletic Conference opener for both teams.

Marcus Brown scored a game-high 16 points to lead the Plainsmen (9-3 overall, 0-1 conference)

"I think we looked like a team that's been traveling a lot," said Odessa College head coach Kris Baumann. "We've been away from home for awhile and it took us some time to get in it but we're 1-0 in the conference.

"We have some players who have to finish some shots around the goal and play better, defensively, but overall, I'm pleased."

Both teams went back and forth in the early minutes of the game.

A 5-0 run by the Plainsmen was answered on the other end of the court with a similar run by Odessa College (11-2, 1-0).

Reese converted a transition layup to give the Wranglers a 9-5 lead with 14:50 left in the first half.         

Odessa College was able to push the lead to 18-7 with the help of some 3-pointers from Johnson and Reese.

Frank Phillips College, however, refused to go away, using a 7-2 run midway through the first half to pull within four, 24-20.

The Wranglers then used a 10-4 run late in the first half to push their lead back into double figures at 34-24 before the Plainsmen called a timeout.

A 3-pointer from Aquarn Butler extended the Wranglers' lead to 41-25 with 1:40 remaining to play in the first half.

The Wranglers finished 8-for-15 from beyond the arc for the game.

Frank Phillips College tried to close the gap early in the second half, thanks a Marcus Brown 3-pointer to cut the Wranglers' lead to 46-34.

But a timely five-point swing from Tavon Jones of Odessa College helped keep the Plainsmen at bay.  

Johnson and Reese would continue to add their totals late in the second half as the Wranglers sealed up their first conference win of the year.

ARTICLE BY: MICHAEL BAUER ODESSA AMERICAN
PHOTO BY: JACOB FORD ODESSA AMERICAN