(Tucson, AZ) The Pima Community College men’s basketball team (13-1, 5-1 in ACCAC) won its fifth straight game on Wednesday after clutch baskets down the stretch sealed the win.
The No. 14 ranked Aztecs outscored the Cougars (9-6, 1-6) 11-4 in the final 2:22 of the game to win 79-72 at the West Campus Aztec Gymnasium.
With the score tied at 68-68, sophomore Cesar Saenz (Sabino HS) put the Aztecs back up after hitting a pair of free throws. He drove and scored on the next possession to make it 72-68. South Mountain turned the ball over on their trip and sophomore Traivar Jackson dunk it to make it 74-68.
Up 74-70, Jackson hit two free throws to make it 76-70 with 31.9 seconds left. Freshman Dillan Baker’s (Salpointe Catholic HS) dunk and free throw helped secure the win.
The Aztecs went on an 8-0 run in the first half to take a 25-14 lead and led 34-27 at halftime. The Cougars started the second half hitting their first six shots and took a 51-48 advantage with 12:11 left. Saenz hit a three-pointer on Pima’s next possession to tie it at 51-51. South Mountain went up again at 62-60 with 7:39 left but Saenz came through again, this time converting on a three-point play. Sophomore Pablo Gutierrez (Sabino HS) drained a three-pointer to make it 66-62.
Jackson finished with a game-high 29 points after he went 9 for 16 from the field and 11 for 14 from the free throw line. He completed his double-double with 12 rebounds.
Saenz closed it out with 20 points on 7 for 13 shooting and 3 for 5 from three-point range. He also had six rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Baker was the other Aztec in double figures as he added 12 points and three rebounds.
The Aztecs controlled the glass as they out-rebounded the Cougars 55-33. Sophomore Pablo Gutierrez (Sabino HS) had 10 boards while freshmen Jaylen Alexander and Jamison Kay (Gila Ridge HS) each had nine.
The Aztecs will play at Mesa Community College on Saturday in an ACCAC conference match-up. Tipoff is set for 2:00 p.m.
SMCC 27 45 72
PCC 34 45 79
Press Release courtesy of Pima Athletics – Raymond Suarez
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