Pima CC Edges SMCC Men's Basketball

PHOENIX ---

The South Mountain Community College men's basketball team lost 61-60 to Pima CC in an ACCAC home game on Feb. 9 at the SMCC Gym. Sophomore Darien Allen led SMCC with 17 points, but his jumper at the buzzer fell short, and the Aztecs escaped with the one-point victory. 

Pima CC led 32-30 at halftime, and the Cougars and Aztecs went back and forth in the second half. With less than two seconds left in the game, the Cougars had the ball on the baseline underneath the Pima CC basket. The play worked, and Allen had a shot at the game-winning basket. Unfortunately, the shot clanged off the front of the rim, and SMCC suffered a heartbreaking loss. 

The Cougars shot 39.1 percent (25-of-64) from the field and made seven free throws. They added 34 rebounds, 11 assists, six steals and two blocked shots. 

Allen was 7-of-14 from the field and knocked down a pair of 3-pointers. He also posted four rebounds, four steals, an assist and a block in 32 minutes. 

Freshman Jaylen Wesley was second on the Cougars with 16 points. He finished 6-of-13 from the field with three rebounds, two assists and two steals in 33 minutes.  

Sophomore Khabri Davis and freshman Jimmy Causey Jr. had six points for SMCC. Davis led the Cougars with nine rebounds and an assist, and Causey Jr. had five rebounds and a block. Sophomore Abdi Odowaay had five points, a team-high four assists and three rebounds.