LEVELLAND, Texas (Interstat) — In a battle of unbeatens that more than lived up to its billing, the Snow Badgers survived a furious South Plains rally and a late-game collapse to edge the Texans 88-83 in overtime Thursday night in a marquee men’s junior college basketball showdown.

The victory kept Snow perfect at 9-0, while South Plains fell to 4-2 in a game that featured wild momentum swings, 10 ties, 13 lead changes, and a dramatic finish in regulation that forced the extra period.

Snow appeared to be in complete control for much of the contest, building a commanding 20-point lead in the first half. The Badgers raced out to a 38-point first quarter, exploiting South Plains’ early sloppiness, and led 76-58 at halftime after shooting a blistering 64 percent from the field in the first 20 minutes. Brock McClure and McCaden Adams spearheaded the early attack, combining for 30 first-half points.

The second half told a different story. The Texans, fueled by a relentless full-court press and ignited by Zion Pipkin’s scoring, mounted a stunning 25-4 run that spanned the third and early fourth quarters. South Plains transformed a 78-60 deficit into an 85-82 lead with just over three minutes remaining in regulation. The Texans held Snow to a mere 12 points in the entire third quarter, capitalizing on Badger turnovers and cold shooting.

“We showed tremendous heart to fight back from that hole,” said South Plains coach, though his team ultimately fell short. “We just couldn’t finish enough plays down the stretch.”

With the game slipping away, Snow’s leaders responded. McClure, who finished with a double-double of 22 points and 11 rebounds, hit a crucial jumper. Adams, who added 20 points and seven rebounds, drew fouls and converted at the line. The Badgers clawed back to tie the game at 88, sending it to overtime after a potential game-winning attempt by South Plains’ Pipkin at the buzzer missed the mark.

In the overtime period, defense and rebounding proved decisive. Both teams were visibly fatigued, combining for just three points in the first four minutes of the extra session. A key block by Snow’s Aaron Bliss and critical offensive rebounds allowed the Badgers to milk the clock. Sean Felts, who provided a vital 16 points off the bench, finally broke the ice with a tough basket inside to give Snow the lead for good with 45 seconds left. South Plains, held scoreless in overtime until a last-second heave, missed all five of its field goal attempts in the final five minutes.

Statistically, Snow’s dominance on the glass was the difference. The Badgers outrebounded the Texans 41-29, including a 15-9 advantage on the offensive boards, which led to 18 second-chance points. Despite shooting worse from three-point range (8 of 23) than South Plains (12 of 24), Snow’s efficiency inside and ability to earn trips to the line (22 of 31) offset the Texans’ perimeter prowess.

Pipkin led all scorers with 22 points for South Plains, while Antallah Sandlin’el contributed 16. Alexandre K’Medehouto was a force defensively and on the boards with nine points, nine rebounds, and two blocks. For Snow, Blake Bahr (13 points) and Sam Sivulich (six assists) provided key support.

Both teams face quick turnarounds. Snow continues its tough road trip at Lamar on Friday, while South Plains looks to rebound at home against Hill College, also on Friday.