Cougar Men's Hoops Topples Pair of Prep Schools

PHOENIX ---

The South Mountain Community College men's basketball team (2-1) defeated UTU College Prep 85-65 on Nov. 2 and Bella Vista Prep 79-70 on Nov. 3 in a pair of non-conference contests at SMCC Gym. Against UTU Prep, freshman Darien Allen was one of four Cougars to finish in double-figures and scored a team-high 18 points. The next day, sophomore Davion Stringer came off the bench to score a team-high 15 points in 15 minutes of work.

UTU College Prep Recap

SMCC jumped out to a 43-28 lead after 20 minutes of action and extended its lead with a 42-37 second half to win 85-65. The Cougars shot 51.5 percent (34-of-66) from the field, 38.5 percent (5-of-13) from the 3-point line, and 75 percent (12-of-16) from the free-throw line. The team also dished out 23 assists and had 11 offensive rebounds.

Allen was an efficient 6-of-10 from the field and 2-of-4 from 3-point range. He added two rebounds, two assists and a steal in 22 minutes of work.

Sophomore Isaiah Camon came off the bench to finish with 13 points on 6-of-7 shooting. He also had two rebounds and three assists in 14 minutes. Sophomore Demonte Demore scored 11 points in 19 minutes, adding five rebounds, two steals and an assist.

Sophomore Fahad Tarjali was the fourth Cougar to reach double-figures, coming off the bench to score 10 points and grab three offensive rebounds. Sophomore Jalen Gant led SMCC with seven rebounds, and he added four points.

Sophomore Angel Villa and sophomore Jalen Smith each had a team-high five assists for SMCC. Smith also recorded four points, two steals and an assist, and Villa had two points and a rebound.

Bella Vista Prep Recap

The Cougars held a 44-28 advantage after 20 minutes and then held off a Bella Vista Prep rally to win 79-70. SMCC shot 43.5 percent (27-of-62) from the field, 45.5 percent (10-of-22) from 3-point range, and 88.2 percent (15-of-17) from the free-throw line. The team grabbed 41 rebounds, had 13 steals, dished out 12 assists, and blocked six shots.

Stringer finished 6-of-11 from the field and added an assist and a steal in 15 minutes of action. Allen was the team's second-leading scorer and finished with 14 points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots.

Sophomore Elijah Melendez was the third Cougar to reach double-figures, finishing with 11 points and two rebounds. Demore also had seven rebounds and added two points, and Gant had four points, three rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block.

Sophomore Kane Kenyon had eight points off the bench, knocking down two 3-pointers and grabbing four rebounds. Tarjali had seven points and five points in 18 minutes off the bench.