(Tucson, AZ) The Pima Community College men’s basketball team (23-6, 15-6 in ACCAC) built a lead in the first half and put Central Arizona College (5-21, 4-17) away in the second half on Saturday at the West Campus Aztec Gymnasium.
The No. 17 ranked Aztecs led from the get-go as they knocked off the Vaqueros 115-73. The Aztecs remain tied with Scottsdale Community College for the No. 1 seed in the NJCAA Region I, Division II Tournament. Pima has won five out of their last six games.
The Aztecs took a 61-37 lead at halftime but the Vaqueros started off the second half on 15-7 run to make it 68-52. Pima led 73-57 and went on a 17-2 run that was led by freshman Mike Pope’s four 3-pointers during that stretch. Sophomore Cesar Saenz (Sabino HS) scored the last five points of the run to make it 95-59 with 6:51 left.
The Aztecs scored nine of the first 11 points of the game and took their first double digit lead when sophomore Traivar Jackson hit a three-pointer to make it 19-7. Freshman Dillan Baker (Salpointe Catholic HS) hit a three-pointer of his own on the next possession to make it 22-7. The Aztecs held their biggest lead of the half at 26 points when the score was 53-27.
The Aztecs hit 19 3-pointers for the game. Baker scored 22 of his team-high 24 points in the first half as he finished 10 for 15 from the field and 4 for 8 from three-point range.
Pope went 7 for 14 from downtown (4 for 6 in the second half) as he finished with 23 points.
Freshman Jamison Kay (Gila Ridge HS) went 5 for 8 from the field and 4 for 6 from beyond the arc as he posted 14 points along with five rebounds and three assists.
Jackson added 12 points while Saenz finished with 11 points, eight assists and five rebounds.
Freshman Jaylen Alexander contributed with 10 points and seven rebounds.
The Aztecs recognized sophomores Cesar Saenz, Traivar Jackson and Pablo Gutierrez (Sabino HS) at halftime.
The Aztecs close out the regular season on Tuesday when they play at Eastern Arizona College. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.
CAC 37 36 73
PCC 61 54 115
Press Release courtesy of Pima Athletics – Raymond Suarez
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