(Tucson, AZ) The Pima Community College men’s basketball team (22-6, 14-6 in ACCAC) took control in the second half on Wednesday against Chandler-Gilbert Community College (20-8, 12-8) in a crucial ACCAC conference match-up.
The No. 17 ranked Aztecs defeated the Coyotes 97-62 at the West Campus Aztec Gym as Pima has won four of their last five games. Pima held a one-game lead over the Coyotes for the No. 2 seed for the NJCAA Region I, Division II Tournament coming into Wednesday’s contest
The Coyotes scored the first points of the second half to make it 41-30 but the Aztecs countered with the three-ball as they went on a 22-10 run to make it 63-40. The Aztecs took their biggest lead of the game at 91-48 with 3:21 left and outscored the Coyotes 56-34 in the second half.
The Aztecs established themselves in the first half going on a 19-3 run to take a 35-16 lead at the 3:47 mark but the Coyotes came back with a 12-2 run of their own to bring it back to single digits. The Aztecs called timeout with the score at 37-28 with 1:44 left. Sophomore Cesar Saenz (Sabino HS) halted Chandler-Gilbert’s momentum with two straight baskets. The Aztecs led 41-28 at the break.
The win gave coach Brian Peabody his 200th career victory as the Pima Men’s Basketball head coach. His overall record sits at 200-125 at Pima and at 643-248 in his 30-year coaching career.
Saenz finished with a game-high 20 points to go along with nine rebounds and three assists.
Freshman Jaylen Alexander finished with 17 points after going 5 for 7 from the field and had eight rebounds.
Sophomore Traivar Jackson shot 6 for 9 from the field and finished with 16 points, nine rebounds, three assists and three steals.
Freshman Dillan Baker (Salpointe Catholic HS) added 15 points after he shot 6 for 10 from the floor. Freshman Mike Pope was 3 for 7 from three-point range (3 for 4 in the second half) and posted nine points.
The Aztecs will close out their regular season home schedule on Saturday when they host Central Arizona College at the West Campus Aztec Gym. Tipoff is set for 2:00 p.m.
CGCC 28 34 62
PCC 41 56 97
Press Release courtesy of Pima Athletics – Raymond Suarez
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