(Tucson, AZ) The Pima Community College men’s basketball team (27-4) is heading back to the NJCAA Region I, Division II Finals for the third time in four years (excluded 2020-21 Covid season).
The No. 2 seeded Aztecs defeated No. 3 Glendale Community College 104-79 producing their 19th game of the season with over 100 points scored.
The Aztecs will play No. 1 Chandler-Gilbert Community College on Saturday in the Region finals. The Coyotes beat Scottsdale Community College 77-64 in the other semifinal matchup.
The Aztecs used a pair of 11-4 runs in the second half to break away from the Gauchos. They led 47-32 at halftime and started the second half with their first 11-4 run in two and a half minutes to take their biggest lead at that point of 58-36. Freshman Cohenj Gonzales found fellow freshman Gabe Oldham in the paint for the basket to force Glendale to call timeout.
Up 63-42 with 15:17 left in the game, they put together their second 11-4 run and was capped by freshman Wes Ball’s (Marana HS) two free throws to make it 74-46 with around 12:30 remaining.
The Gauchos cut Pima’s lead to 20 at 86-66 but would not get any closer as freshman Kota Benson (Mesa HS) drained a three-pointer to halt the rally.
The Aztecs shot 47 percent from the field and hit nine 3-pointers. They also went 23 for 29 (79 percent) from the free throw line.
Sophomore Jaylen Alexander finished with a game-high 26 points as he went 9 for 13 from the field and 8 for 9 from the free throw line. He also added six rebounds.
Sophomore Dillan Baker (Salpointe Catholic HS) scored 16 points as he went 4 for 6 from downtown and finished with four rebounds, four assists and two steals.
Oldham was 6 for 8 shooting with 15 points to go with eight rebounds, four assists and a one block.
Ball contributed with a double-double off the bench as he finished with 14 points and 13 rebounds.
Gonzales struggled from the field going 1 for 9 with six points but he made his presence felt on the glass with 10 boards. He also had six assists and three steals.
The Aztecs and the Coyotes will play on Saturday in the Region I, Division II Finals at 7:00 p.m.
Press Release courtesy of Pima Aztec Athletics – Raymond Suarez
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