(Tucson, AZ) The Pima Community College men’s basketball team is heading back to the NJCAA Region I, Division II Finals for the first time since 2019-20.
The No. 1 seeded Aztecs defeated No. 4 Phoenix College 89-71 on Tuesday in the Region I, Division II Semifinal matchup at the West Campus Aztec Gymnasium. The Aztecs will play No. 2 Scottsdale Community College on Friday. The Artichokes beat Chandler-Gilbert Community College 68-54 to advance.
The Bears started the second half on an 11-4 run to cut Pima’s lead to 43-42 but the Aztecs scored the next five points to create some breathing room. Up 48-46 with 15:20 left, the Aztecs went on a 10-2 run to take back a double-digit lead at 58-48. The Aztecs continued to teeter on a double digit lead over the mid-way point of the second half. Sophomore Traivar Jackson’s basket and freshman Dillan Baker’s (Salpointe Catholic HS) three-pointer put the Aztecs up 76-59 with under six minutes left. The Aztecs held their biggest lead at 87-67 with under a minute remaining.
Down 17-9, the Aztecs called timeout with 14:22 left in the first half. The Aztecs put together a 15-0 run and held the Bears scoreless for almost five minutes as they took a 24-17 lead. The Aztecs took a 39-31 lead at halftime.
“I think we just do what we do. They (Phoenix College) couldn’t match up with us; we played defense, and they couldn’t stop us from scoring,” freshman Jaylen Alexander said.
Jackson finished with a double-double of 23 points and 11 rebounds. He also added three assists and three blocks.
Baker went 6 for 9 from the field and 4 for 6 from three-point range for 21 points. He was also 5 for 5 from the free throw line.
Alexander went 6 for 9 from the field and 7 for 10 from the free throw line as he posted 19 points.
“I feel my team was just finding me at the right spots and I was just sticking to what I’m good at; easy layups at the rim and being aggressive, and we made it work,” Alexander said. “I haven’t been shooting the best at free throws this season but I’ve been going to practice everyday to shoot free throws and staying after practice to shoot free throws. I shot decent today at 70 percent, which is better than my average.”
Sophomore Cesar Saenz (Sabino HS) also finished in double figures with 10 points to go along with five assists and four rebounds.
The Aztecs will play the Artichokes at the West Campus Aztec Gymnasium in the Region I, Division II Finals on Friday. Tipoff is at 7:00 p.m.
“They’re probably our best competition in the conference so we got to do what we do. If we do what we did today, like our coach (Brian Peabody) said in the locker room, we have a good chance of beating them.”
Press Release courtesy of Pima Athletics – Raymond Suarez
Click on Logo
