Mustangs win 65-61 thriller on road

The Nixon-Smiley Mustangs went to San Antonio Tuesday, Feb. 1, and came home with a thrilling 65-61 victory over Great Hearts Monte Vista, to solidify their hold on the fourth and final playoff spot for District 26-3A

The game was a tight one as the two teams went into halftime, tied 33-33. The Mustangs (18-7, 5-5) forged ahead in the second half and fought off several late-game runs by Monte Vista and Nixon-Smiley was able to stave off the comeback and claim victory.

Nixon-Smiley has been a road-tested team, with 10 of their 18 wins coming from the unfriendly confines of their opponents’ gymnasiums. They are 10-3 on the road, a perfect 4-0 at neutral sites and 4-4 at home.

The Mustangs were led by Braxton Regalado with 18 points, while Carl White Jr. and Dustin Mejia each with 13. Bradyn Martinez scored 9 and Luke Moses and Ruben Bomer each had 6.

The Mustangs were scheduled to take on the third-place Marion Bulldogs in Nixon on Friday, Feb. 4, and then play at fifth-place Randolph on Tuesday, Feb. 8.