Soles de Mexicali Defeat Astros de Jalisco 90-76 in LNBP Match Report

Soles de Mexicali produced a composed road performance to beat Astros de Jalisco 90-76 in a Liga Nacional de Baloncesto Profesional (LNBP) matchup on September 12, 2026. The visitors overcame an early deficit, seized control in the second quarter, and never let the home side fully recover at Arena Astros.

The 14-point win gives Soles de Mexicali an important result in the LNBP standings, while Astros de Jalisco are left to regroup after a promising opening period gave way to a difficult middle stretch. Soles’ balanced scoring, rebounding advantage, and sharper half-court execution proved to be the difference in a game that was tied early but decisively controlled after halftime.

Match Overview

Astros de Jalisco began with energy in front of their home crowd, attacking the rim and knocking down outside shots to take a 24-20 lead after the first quarter. The pace favored the home team early, with Astros pushing the ball in transition and forcing Soles into quick decisions.

That momentum disappeared in the second quarter. Soles de Mexicali tightened their defense, limited second-chance opportunities, and used a steady stream of pick-and-roll actions to generate open looks. A 26-16 scoring edge in the period turned the game around and sent the visitors into halftime with a 46-40 advantage.

The third quarter belonged to Soles as well. They extended their lead with a 24-18 run, pushing the margin to 70-58 entering the final period. Astros showed brief signs of a comeback in the fourth, but Soles answered every run with timely shot-making and free throws, closing out the 90-76 victory.

Quarter-by-Quarter Score

• First quarter: Astros de Jalisco 24, Soles de Mexicali 20
• Second quarter: Astros de Jalisco 16, Soles de Mexicali 26
• Third quarter: Astros de Jalisco 18, Soles de Mexicali 24
• Fourth quarter: Astros de Jalisco 18, Soles de Mexicali 20
• Final: Astros de Jalisco 76, Soles de Mexicali 90

Key Moments

The defining stretch came midway through the second quarter. With Astros leading 32-30, Soles de Mexicali ripped off a 12-2 run over the next three minutes, capitalizing on two three-pointers and a pair of offensive rebounds. That burst gave the visitors a lead they would not surrender.

Astros de Jalisco briefly threatened in the third quarter, cutting the deficit to eight points after a quick 6-0 spurt. But Soles responded immediately with a 9-0 run of their own, highlighted by a steal-and-layup sequence and a corner three from the bench. The home crowd quieted as the margin ballooned to 17 points.

In the fourth quarter, Astros made one last push behind aggressive drives from their guards, but Soles’ half-court defense forced difficult contested jumpers down the stretch. A late 7-2 run sealed the result and kept the visitors comfortably ahead until the final buzzer.

Tactical Story

Soles de Mexicali won this game with superior ball movement and interior control. They finished with 22 assists on 34 made field goals, constantly finding the open man against Astros’ rotating defense. Their 12 three-pointers stretched the floor and opened driving lanes for the guards.

Astros de Jalisco, by contrast, relied more heavily on isolation plays. They managed only 15 assists and committed 14 turnovers, several of which turned into transition points for Soles. The rebounding battle also favored the visitors, 42-34, leading to a 16-8 edge in second-chance points.

Inside the paint, Soles outscored Astros 44-32. Their big men set strong screens, rolled hard to the rim, and punished smaller defenders on the offensive glass. Defensively, Soles switched effectively on the perimeter and forced Astros into mid-range attempts rather than clean looks at the basket.

Standout Players

• Emmanuel Ruiz (Soles de Mexicali): 24 points, 6 assists, 4 rebounds, and 3 steals. Ruiz controlled the tempo and hit several timely shots in the second half.
• Andrés Villalobos (Soles de Mexicali): 18 points, 11 rebounds, and 2 blocks. His double-double anchored the paint on both ends.
• Jordan Caldwell (Soles de Mexicali): 15 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists, and 3 three-pointers. Caldwell provided a spark off the bench.
• Diego Valenzuela (Astros de Jalisco): 21 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists. Valenzuela was the home side’s most reliable scorer.
• Marco Tapia (Astros de Jalisco): 14 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 steals. Tapia battled inside but lacked consistent help.

LNBP Standings and Season Impact