Preview: New Mexico Thunderbirds at Clarendon Bulldogs

CLARENDON, Texas (Interstat) — A stark contrast in fortunes will be on display Monday night when the surging New Mexico Thunderbirds visit the struggling Clarendon Bulldogs in a men’s junior college basketball matchup at Bulldog Gym.

The Thunderbirds (16-4) enter on a five-game winning streak and sit near the top of the conference standings. The Bulldogs (4-16) have lost five straight and are mired near the bottom. The teams met just over a month ago, with New Mexico securing an 86-67 home victory on Jan. 15.

New Mexico’s success is built on balance and recent dominance, winning those five consecutive games by an average margin of 14.2 points. In their latest outing, an 80-64 win over Howard (Tex.) on Feb. 12, Ladji Coulibaly led the way with 18 points and six rebounds in just 22 minutes. Michael Mackey added 16 points and Delang Muon had 14. Coulibaly, a key player to watch, has been a consistent force, posting a double-double of 13 rebounds and two blocks in a win at Odessa on Feb. 2.

Clarendon will lean heavily on guard KD Davis, who has been a bright spot during the losing skid. Davis is coming off a 20-point, seven-rebound performance in a narrow 62-59 loss to Frank Phillips on Feb. 9. He has been a workhorse, playing nearly the entire game in recent contests and recording a 22-point, 15-rebound effort in a win over Western Texas on Jan. 22. Containing Davis will be a primary focus for the Thunderbirds’ defense.

For Clarendon, the mission is to find a way to break its prolonged slump and protect its home court. For New Mexico, the game represents a chance to solidify its standing and avoid a letdown against a lower-ranked opponent before a crucial rematch with South Plains later in the week.

Tip-off is scheduled for Monday, Feb. 16, 2026, in Clarendon.