BORGER, Texas (Interstat) — The Frank Phillips Plainsmen used a dominant first quarter to seize control and never looked back, defeating the Trinidad State Trojans 64-44 in a men’s junior college basketball game Tuesday night.

The Plainsmen, avenging a narrow loss to the Trojans just two weeks prior, improved their season record to 4-6. Trinidad State fell to 4-7.

Frank Phillips set the tone immediately, exploding for 34 points in the opening period while holding Trinidad State to 21. The early burst provided a cushion the Trojans could not dent, as the Plainsmen carried a 64-44 lead into halftime and maintained that exact 20-point margin when the final buzzer sounded.

Offensive efficiency told the story. Frank Phillips scored its 64 points on 62 possessions, an offensive rating of 103.0. Trinidad State managed only 44 points on 60 trips, a rating of 73.6. The Plainsmen’s advantage was built inside, outscoring the Trojans 42-18 in the paint and crushing them on the glass with a 40-21 rebounding edge, including 20 offensive boards.

Trinidad State struggled mightily from the field, shooting just 30.6 percent on 15-of-49 shooting. Frank Phillips was not much more accurate from distance, hitting only 3 of 15 three-point attempts, but their work inside led to a 40.9 percent overall clip (27 of 66).

Don Escobar led the Frank Phillips attack with a game-high 18 points. Nehemiah Holmes provided a key spark off the bench, contributing 11 points and six rebounds. Bryceson Dobie added 10 points, five rebounds and three assists, while Quint Booker filled the stat sheet with nine points and six rebounds. Issa Traore anchored the interior defense with seven rebounds and two blocks.

For Trinidad State, Maurice Thomas was the lone consistent offensive threat, finishing with 19 points. No other Trojan player scored more than five.

The game’s opening minutes were a harbinger. Escobar hit a three-pointer on the Plainsmen’s first possession, and Frank Phillips raced to a 15-4 lead midway through the first quarter. Trinidad State’s shooting woes were immediate, starting the game 2 for 13 from the field. Though Thomas hit a pair of threes to keep the Trojans within reach, Frank Phillips closed the quarter on a 7-2 run, capped by a Cortland Thomas jumper at the buzzer for a 34-21 advantage.

The second quarter saw more of the same. The Trojans could not put together a sustained run, as their shooting failed to improve and the Plainsmen continued to capitalize on extra chances. A Holmes three-pointer pushed the lead to 45-31, and an Escobar jumper and free throw extended it to 60-40 with just over five minutes to play. The final minutes were a formality, with both teams emptying their benches.

The victory marked a reversal of fortune from the teams’ previous meeting on Nov. 19, when Trinidad State edged Frank Phillips 102-100. Interstat’s ELO system had projected Frank Phillips as a 65.2 percent favorite to win the rematch.

Trinidad State next faces Arizona Western at home on Saturday, Dec. 6, before traveling to play New Mexico Military on Sunday, Dec. 7. Frank Phillips will host Ranger on Monday, Dec. 8.