From the PARC — February 10, 2026
"When you've been down in the valley, that mountaintop feels a whole lot sweeter." — Rev. Jackson
HOUSTON — Stallion Nation… let me preach for just a moment.
The North American University JV Men walked into the PARC tonight carrying the weight of a three-game skid — three straight nights where the shots rimmed out, the bounces went the wrong way, and the lessons were tougher than the scoreboard. But tonight? Tonight the Stallions said:
"Enough is enough."
Behind a first-half explosion and a whole lot of heart down the stretch, NAU bounced back in a big way, securing a 76–67 win over Houston Community College and putting a STOP to that losing streak with emphasis and energy.
FIRST HALF: The Response of a Team Tired of Losing
The Stallions came out like a team that had been stewing for days. NAU raced to a 42–26 halftime lead, running the floor, forcing turnovers, and defending like the skid never existed.
They punched first. They punched second. And for a moment, it looked like the route was ON.
SECOND HALF: HCC Swings Back
But losing streaks don't break easily — and HCC made sure of that.
The Birds clawed back, trimming a 20-point lead into single digits. The building got tight… the momentum shifted… and NAU found themselves in familiar danger.
But here's where the sermon changes.
Where the last three games slipped away, THIS one didn't.
Every time HCC threatened, the Young Stallions answered — with a timely bucket, a defensive stop, or a little extra toughness on the glass.
That's growth.
That's maturity.
That's a team refusing to let another one get away.
STALLION STANDOUTS — "Deliverance Ball"
Aaderius Blanks — 14 pts, 9 rebs, 7 ast, 4 stl
Nearly a triple-double. Controlled the tempo like a minister with a microphone.
Answered every run HCC made with a bucket NAU desperately needed.
Steady… strong… and timely.
Antone McNair — 12 pts, 7 rebs, 3 stl, 2 blk
Energy personified. Set the tone defensively.
Etuke Mbua — 10 pts off the bench
A spark plug when the offense stalled.
TEAM NUMBERS THAT BROKE THE SKID
- 19 assists — team-first basketball
- 13 steals & 9 blocks — defensive commitment
- 41 rebounds — no more second chances
- Held HCC to 1-of-14 from deep
These are the numbers of a team that said:
"Not tonight. Not again."
REV. JACKSON'S FINAL WORD
"North American didn't just WIN tonight — they redeemed themselves tonight.
Three-game skid? Gone.
Confidence? Restored.
Momentum? Back in the bag."
