HOBBS, N.M. (Interstat) — The New Mexico Thunderbirds used a dominant second-half performance to remain undefeated, pulling away from the Seward County Saints for an 81-68 victory in a men’s junior college basketball game Saturday night.

The game was a tale of two halves, with the teams locked in a tight, high-scoring battle through the first 20 minutes before New Mexico seized control. Seward County held a narrow 68-67 lead at halftime, but the Thunderbirds outscored the Saints 48-37 after the break to secure the win.

New Mexico’s victory was fueled by superior efficiency and ball security. The Thunderbirds scored 81 points on 80 possessions, an offensive rating of 100.6, while the Saints managed just 68 points on 77 possessions for an offensive rating of 88.1. A significant factor was Seward County’s 25 turnovers, which New Mexico converted into numerous transition opportunities. The Thunderbirds committed only 14 turnovers and recorded 10 steals.

RJ Nance led all scorers for New Mexico, pouring in 21 points in just 25 minutes of action. He also contributed five rebounds and five assists, showcasing an all-around game that paced the Thunderbirds’ offense. Kenny Fields provided a crucial scoring punch off the bench with 15 points.

Despite the loss, Seward County dominated the glass, outrebounding New Mexico 49 to 37. Lucas N’Gombo was a force inside for the Saints, posting a double-double with 12 points and a game-high 13 rebounds. Bailey Milligan just missed a double-double of his own, adding 10 points and nine rebounds. Lyna Brooks Jr. scored 13 points and Antonio Williams Jr. led the Saints with 14 points off the bench.

The Saints struggled mightily from the free-throw line, converting only 19 of 32 attempts, a deficiency that proved costly in a 13-point game. From the field, Seward County shot 19 for 50, while New Mexico was more prolific, going 29 for 69. Both teams connected on 11 three-pointers.

The win improves New Mexico’s season record to 4-0, while Seward County suffers its first loss, falling to 5-1. The game defied the projection from Interstat’s game simulator, which had forecast a 100-100 tie, though the site’s ELO system gave the Thunderbirds a 63.2 percent probability to win.

Seward County will look to rebound on the road against Cloud County on Wednesday. New Mexico’s next contest is at home against Northern Oklahoma-Tonkawa on Saturday.