SMCC Men's Basketball Finishes 2-1 at 2023 PC Holiday Classic

PHOENIX ---

The South Mountain Community College men's basketball team (5-7) went 2-1 at the 2023 PC Holiday Classic on Dec. 28-30 at Phoenix College. The Cougars sandwiched victories over the GCU Club Team 73-67 and Vancouver Island University 81-63 around an 86-77 to Justice College. 

GCU Club Team Recap

The Cougars defeated the GCU Club Team for the second time this season with a 73-67 victory on Dec. 28. Sophomore Jaylen Wesley led SMCC with 28 points, and freshman Bobby Holcomb posted 24 as the Cougars posted a six-point win. SMCC led 34-30 at halftime, shot 47.3 percent from the field, and added 49 rebounds and 16 assists in the win.

Wesley was 10 of 17 from the field and 8 of 10 from the free throw line in 31 minutes. He added 17 rebounds, one shy of matching his career high, and had four assists. Holcomb was 8 of 15 from the field and 4 of 7 from 3-point range. He added four rebounds and two assists in 30 minutes. 

Freshman Keyvone Craig came off the bench and finished with six points and five rebounds in 20 minutes. Freshman Parker Escalante had five points, three rebounds and four assists in 30 minutes, and fellow rookie Jayven Driscoll had four points and nine rebounds in 20 minutes. 

Justice College Recap

In their second tournament game, the Cougars fell 86-77 to Justice College on Dec. 29. They trailed 42-34 at halftime and fell 44-43 in the second half. SMCC shot 45 percent from the field and added 22 rebounds and eight assists. 

Wesley led SMCC with 32 points, finishing 12 of 24 from the field and 4 of 6 from 3-point range. He added eight rebounds and three assists in 35 minutes. Escalante was second on the squad with 22 points, finishing 7 of 8 from the floor and adding four rebounds, four assists, and two steals in 32 minutes. 

Holcomb posted 14 points, making three 3-pointers in 32 minutes, and Driscoll added five points and six rebounds in 21 minutes. 

Vancouver Island University Recap

The Cougars rebounded with an 81-63 victory over Vancouver Island University to close out the tournament on Dec. 30. SMCC led 40-36 at halftime and won the second half 41-27. SMCC shot 57.4 percent from the floor (31 of 54) and added 29 rebounds, eight assists, and eight steals. 

Wesley led SMCC with a career-high 38 points, finishing 14 of 18 from the floor and 5 of 6 from the 3-point line. He added eight rebounds, two blocks, one assist, and one steal while playing all 40 minutes. 

Escalante was second on the team with 12 points, and he recorded three rebounds, three assists, and a steal in 37 minutes. Holcomb posted 11 points with two rebounds and two assists in 20 minutes, and sophomore Nyzhir Brown had nine points and seven rebounds in 34 minutes. 

Freshman Deven Johnson came off the bench to finish with eight points, six steals, one rebound, and one assist in 13 minutes.