SMCC Opens Conference Play with 79-76 Victory over Glendale CC

PHOENIX ---

The South Mountain Community College men's basketball team (4-4, 1-0 ACCAC) defeated Glendale CC 79-76 in both team's conference opener on Nov. 20 at the SMCC Gym. Sophomore Jacob Taylor led the Cougars with 22 points and nine rebounds, and three other SMCC players finished in double-figures as the Cougars overcame a four-point deficit with five minutes to play. 

GCC took a 71-67 lead with 5:22 to play after Davis Hester connected on a 3-pointer. Freshman Jayden Potts made three free throws to cut the lead to one with less than four minutes to play. Sophomore Cash Callaway gave SMCC the lead at 73-71 with a 3-pointer with 3:33 left. 

The Gauchos reclaimed the lead the next time down the floor but missed a pair of free throws with 2:24 left, keeping their advantage at 74-73. Taylor then made two free throws with just over 90 seconds left to give SMCC the lead and added another pair with 61 seconds to play. 

GCC made a lay-up with 43 seconds left to pull back within one, but Taylor got his own rebound off a 3-point miss, and Callaway made two free throws with seven seconds left. The Gauchos' 3-pointer at the buzzer fell short, and Taylor secured the final board. 

Taylor finished 5 of 11 from the field and 10 of 11 from the free-throw line in 36 minutes. Five of his nine rebounds came on the offensive glass, and he added three assists and a steal. 

Freshman Drew Hoxie was second on the team with 15 points, shooting 7 of 12 in 25 minutes. He also posted four rebounds, one assist and one block. 

Callaway had 13 points, three 3-pointers, three assists, and a rebound in 35 minutes, and Potts produced 11 points, five rebounds, four assists, and a steal in 26 minutes before fouling out. 

Sophomore Julius Williams came off the bench to finish with six points, eight rebounds, three assists, and a block in 25 minutes. Sophomore Nathan Robinson had three points, seven rebounds, and a block in 16 reserve minutes, and freshman McKay Anderson had six points, two assists, two 3-pointers, and a rebound in 15 minutes. 

SMCC shot 40.9 percent (27 of 66) over the 40 minutes, totaling 44 rebounds, 16 assists, two steals, and three blocks. Hoxie had 11 points in the first 20 minutes, and the Cougars led 35-34 at halftime.