Wesley Reaches 1,000-Point Threshold, SMCC Men's Hoops Defeats SCC

PHOENIX ---

Sophomore Jaylen Wesley scored 29 points to surpass 1,000 points in his South Mountain Community College career as the SMCC men's basketball team held on to defeat Scottsdale CC 68-66 in an ACCAC home contest on Wednesday, Jan. 31. The Cougars built a 15-point halftime lead behind a solid first half, but had to hold on against a surging Artichoke squad to secure their second conference win of the season. 

SMCC led 42-25 at halftime after shooting 60 percent (15 of 25) from the field. However, SCC came out firing in the second half and opened the period with a 15-0 run to tie the game at 42-42 with 13:26 left to play. A lay-up from Bobby Holcomb stemmed the run, but the Artichokes continued to score and led 54-50 with less than eight minutes to play. 

The teams continued to trade baskets, and SCC led by four with less than four to play. With under two minutes left, freshman Parker Escalante made three free throws to tie the game, and Holcomb made a crucial lay-up with 1:02 left to put SMCC up two points (67-65). Each team made a free throw down the stretch, and a last-second SCC shot caromed off the backboard at the buzzer. 

Wesley was 6 of 14 from the field and 17 of 19 from the free-throw line to reach 1,000 career points in 50 games. He added a game-high 11 rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks in 39 minutes. He is averaging 26.9 points, 10.6 rebounds, and 3.0 assists per game in 20 contests this year. 

Holcomb finished with 12 points, six rebounds, three assists and a steal in 35 minutes, and Escalante totaled nine points, three assists, and two steals in 39 minutes. 

Sophomore Nyzhir Brown scored 10 points and made a pair of 3-pointers and freshman Deavon Felix had two points, two rebounds, and two steals off the bench.