(Tucson, AZ) The Pima Community College men’s basketball team (11-1) scored one of the biggest wins of the season on Friday in the second day of the Aztec Holiday Classic.
The No. 14 ranked Aztecs (Division II) held on to down No. 5 ranked Snow College 83-79, handing the Badgers their first defeat of the season (13-1).
The Badgers made two free throws to cut Pima’s lead to 78-77 with 26 seconds left but sophomore Dillan Baker (Salpointe Catholic HS) hit two free throws to get it back to a 3-point game at 80-77. Baker grabbed the defensive rebound on the next possession and was fouled to put him back at the line. He drained two more foul shots to make it 82-77 with 11.2 seconds left.
Snow College scored on the next trip down and called timeout with 4.8 seconds remaining. Freshman Cohenj Gonzales got the inbounds play and was fouled. He hit his first throw to put the game out of reach.
Gonzales threw down a highlight dunk early in the game to spark the Aztecs as they hit 10 of their first 13 shots and took their first double digit lead at 23-12. Up 40-31, the Aztecs closed out the half on a 13-0 run to take a 53-31 at the break.
The Aztecs led by as much as 28 points with 15 minutes left in the second half but the Badgers chipped away and cut Pima’s lead to one point on two occasions but Pima never relinquished the lead.
Baker led all scores with 26 points as he went 8 for 16 from the field and 8 for 10 from the free throw line. He also grabbed six rebounds.
Gonzales closed out the game with 21 points to go along with four rebounds.
Freshman Gabe Oldham posted a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds while sophomore Jaylen Alexander finished with nine points, six rebounds and four assists.
The Aztecs went 18 for 25 from the free throw line. They went 8 for 17 from three-point range in the first half but overcame going 1 for 9 in the second half.
The Aztecs close out play in the Aztec Holiday Classic on Saturday when they face off against McLennan Community College. Tipoff is set for 3:00 p.m.
SNOW 31 48 79
PIMA 53 30 83
Press Release courtesy of Pima Aztec Athletics – Raymond Suarez
Click on Logo
