SMCC Men's Basketball Defeats Benedictine-Mesa (JV), Arizona Christian (JV)

PHOENIX ---

The South Mountain Community College men's basketball team defeated Benedictine-Mesa (JV) on November 14 and Arizona Christian (JV) 103-45 on November 16 in a pair of non-conference games at SMCC Gym. Against the Redhawks, freshman Jaylen Wesley scored a team-high 17 points, and sophomore Kiai Apele added 16 off the bench to lead the Cougars to the win. Two days later, sophomore Khabri Davis led SMCC with 19 points on a perfect 7-of-7 shooting as SMCC finished the preseason with a perfect 4-0 record. 

Benedictine-Mesa (JV) Recap

The Cougars jumped to a 38-18 lead after 20 minutes and won the second half 58-29 to defeat the Redhawks. SMCC shot 45.8 percent (38-of-83) and 82.4 percent (14-of-17) from the free throw line with 55 rebounds, 21 assists and nine steals. 

Wesley finished 5-of-12 from the field and knocked down 5-of-8 attempts from the charity stripe. He added nine rebounds, including four offensive boards, in 22 minutes. Apele was efficient in his 16 minutes, shooting 6-of-8 from the field with two 3-pointers and free throws. He also had five rebounds and two assists. 

Freshman Jimmy Causey Jr. posted 14 points and nine rebounds in 30 minutes, adding two steals and a block. Sophomore Darien Allen had 13 points, and three rebounds, and freshman Aaron Johnson had 10 points and five rebounds in his season debut.  

Sophomore Abdi Odowaay finished with eight points, five assists and four rebounds in 19 minutes, and Steven Cervantes posted six points and five assists. 

Arizona Christian (JV) Recap

The Cougars led 51-23 at halftime and won the second half 52-22 to defeat the Firestorm. SMCC registered 46 rebounds, 20 assists and 12 steals while shooting 55.8 percent (43-of-77) from the field and 55 percent (11-of-20) from 3-point range in the victory. 

Davis finished 7-for-7 from the field, 3-for-3 from 3-point range, and 2-for-2 from the charity stripe. He added four rebounds and an assist in 14 minutes. 

Odowaay and Johnson came off the bench to score 15 points apiece. Odowaay had two rebounds and two assists, while Johnson had three offensive rebounds and two steals. 

Colton Thomas, Cervantes and Wesley each posted eight points in the win. Cervantes had two boards and four assists, Wesley had five rebounds and two steals, and Thomas had a pair of rebounds and two 3-pointers. 

Apele led the Cougars with five assists and added two rebounds and four points, and freshman Nahshon Harper had five points, three rebounds, four steals and two blocks in 17 minutes.