MIDLAND, Texas (Interstat) — In a game defined by its chaotic final seconds, the Midland Chaparrals outlasted the Western Texas Westerners 79-71 in a men’s junior college basketball game Monday night.

The contest, a rematch of a Jan. 29 meeting won decisively by Western Texas, was a tense affair that saw Midland, one of the region’s top teams, pushed to the limit by a Westerners squad seeking a season-defining upset. The most important part of the game unfolded in the closing 10 seconds, transforming a narrow margin into a final score that belied the struggle.

With just 17 seconds remaining and Midland clinging to a 75-71 lead, Western Texas’s Isak Homelius drained a clutch 3-pointer to cut the deficit to a single point. The Westerners immediately fouled, sending Midland’s Yeison Liberato to the free-throw line. Liberato, the game’s top star, calmly sank both attempts to extend the lead to 77-71.

On the ensuing possession, Zayier Dean drove for a layup for Western Texas, making it 77-73 with 11 seconds left. The Westerners again fouled, sending Liberato back to the line. He was perfect once more, hitting both free throws to seal the victory at 79-73. A final 3-point attempt by Western Texas’s Anesu Dehwe missed as time expired.

Liberato’s composure at the line was the decisive factor. He finished with 16 points, including a perfect 8-for-8 performance from the free-throw line in the final 32 seconds, to go along with five assists and four rebounds. His backcourt mate, Antoine Bo Hurns, added 11 points, eight rebounds and a disruptive defensive presence with multiple steals.

The game was a tale of two halves, played under an unusual two-quarter format. Midland took a 38-35 lead into halftime after a back-and-forth first period that featured eight lead changes. The Chaparrals maintained their edge throughout the second quarter, though they could never fully shake the persistent Westerners.

Western Texas was led by Homelius, who scored a game-high 22 points, and Dehwe, who added 17 points and eight rebounds. Their efforts kept the Westerners within striking distance until the final moments.

The win improved Midland’s season record to 23-4, solidifying its position as a powerhouse. Western Texas, despite the valiant effort, fell to 11-15. The result aligned with statistical projections that heavily favored the Chaparrals, though the path to victory proved far more arduous than anticipated.

Midland next travels to face Howard (Tex.) on Thursday. Western Texas will host Frank Phillips the same night.