SMCC Men's Basketball Rallies to Upend Mesa CC

PHOENIX --- 

The South Mountain Community College men's basketball team (5-5, 1-2 ACCAC) rallied from a nine-point halftime deficit to defeat Mesa CC 89-84 in overtime in an Arizona Community College Athletic Conference contest on Nov. 23 at Cougar Gym. Freshman Darien Allen connected on a 3-pointer with less than five seconds to play to send the game into overtime, and he led four Cougars in double-figures with a team-high 24 points as SMCC posted its first ACCAC win of the season. 

Allen was an efficient 7-of-11 from the field and 3-of-5 from 3-point range in 35 minutes. He also was 7-of-9 from the free-throw line and also led the Cougars with nine rebounds. Allen is averaging 14.1 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game in 10 contests this season. 

Sophomore Angel Villa was the Cougars' second-leading scorer, finishing with a season-high 18 points. He was 4-of-6 from the field, connected on 9-of-11 free throws and knocked down a 3-pointer. He also dished out a team-high seven assists and is averaging 4.9 points, 3.1 rebounds and 3.0 assists in 10 games this season.  

Sophomore Demonte Demore finished with 14 points and eight rebounds in 33 minutes. He also had two steals, a block and an assist and is averaging 13.0 points, 6.6 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game this season. 

Sophomore Elijah Melendez was the fourth Cougar to reach double-figures, scoring 12 points in 33 minutes. He also had two rebounds and a team-high three steals and is averaging 12.6 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game this season. 

Sophomores Fahad Tarjali and Shawn Black scored six points off the bench for the Cougars. Another sophomore, Christian Allen, had four points, four rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block in an efficient 13 minutes.

The Cougars shot 47.5 percent from the field, 38.9 percent from 3-point range and 77.4 percent from the free-throw line. They grabbed 35 rebounds, distributed 18 assists and recorded 13 steals.