Cougar Men's Hoops Opens Year with Pair of Wins

PHOENIX ---

The South Mountain Community College men's basketball team (2-1) posted wins over the Arizona Christian University JV Team and the Park University-Gilbert as part of the Phoenix College Juco/JV Invitational at Phoenix College from Nov. 1-3. SMCC recorded a 77-70 win over the ACU JV squad on Nov. 1 and then produced a 93-57 victory over the Buccaneers on Nov. 2. However, the Cougars fell in their weekend finale as the GCU Club Team posted a 78-56 win on Nov. 3. 

ACU JV Recap

SMCC posted a 77-70 victory over the Firestorm in its 2024-25 season opener. The Cougars led 34-24 at halftime and narrowly fell 46-43 in the second half. SMCC shot 43.1 percent (28 of 65) from the field and added 36 rebounds, 15 assists, eight steals, and three blocks in the victory. 

Sophomore Cash Callaway led the Cougars with 23 points in his SMCC debut. He knocked down three 3-pointers and added four steals, three assists, and three rebounds in 31 minutes. 

Sophomore Jacob Taylor also finished in double-figures in his SMCC debut, posting 15 points in 28 minutes. He knocked down two 3-pointers and added two steals, two assists, a block, and a rebound. 

Freshman David Jackson came off the bench to score 17 points for SMCC. He also connected on two 3-pointers and added five rebounds, four assists, and a steal in 30 minutes. 

Sophomore Nathan Robinson led SMCC with eight rebounds and added nine points, two blocks, a steal, and an assist in 27 minutes. Sophomore Jayven Driscoll had three points and five rebounds, and freshman Drew Hoxie added two points and four rebounds.

Another rookie, McKay Anderson, finished with four assists, three rebounds, and three points in 12 minutes. 

Park University-Gilbert Recap

The Cougars won their second game of the weekend with a 93-57 victory over the Buccaneers. SMCC led 43-22 at halftime and built upon that lead with a 50-35 second-half victory. The Cougars shot 50.7 percent (36 of 71) from the field and made 12 of 23 3-point attempts (52.2 percent). They added 41 rebounds, 27 assists, seven steals, and three blocks in the victory. 

Callaway led five Cougars in double figures with a team-best 22 points. He made six 3-pointers and added a team-high eight assists in 28 minutes. 

Taylor was second on the squad with 15 points, connecting on two 3-pointers and adding four rebounds, three assists, and a steal in 28 minutes. Hoxie came off the bench to post 13 points, four rebounds, two steals, two assists, and a block in 18 minutes. 

Freshman David Yourkoski scored 11 points in 17 minutes off the bench. He added six rebounds and two assists in the win. Anderson was the fifth Cougar in double-figures, finishing with 10 points, five assists, and an offensive rebound in 10 minutes. 

Freshman Dionte LaMaide had seven points and a team-high seven rebounds in 10 minutes off the bench. He also had an assist and a steal. Robinson posted seven points, five rebounds, and three assists in 28 minutes, and Driscoll had four points and six rebounds. 

GCU Club Team Recap

SMCC suffered its first season loss, falling 78-56 to the Grand Canyon University Club Team on Nov. 3. SMCC trailed 37-26 at halftime and lost 41-30 in the second. The Cougars shot 36.7 percent (18 of 49) from the floor and added 34 rebounds, eight assists, six steals, and four blocks in the loss. 

Anderson came off the bench to lead the Cougars with 15 points. He knocked down four 3-pointers and added three rebounds and two steals in 28 minutes. 

Callaway had 13 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, to go with three steals, a rebound, and an assist in 28 minutes. Taylor scored 12 and added five rebounds and two assists in 29 minutes. 

Hoxie led SMCC with eight rebounds and added six points, four blocks, and three assists in 25 minutes off the bench. Robinson had six boards and a steal, while Driscoll had five rebounds and an assist.