Information for this report provided by Pima media-relations director Ray Suarez
The Pima Community College men’s basketball team bounced back Saturday from its first loss of the season on Wednesday at Chandler-Gilbert with a dominating performance against South Mountain at the West Campus Aztec Gym.
The No. 14 ranked Aztecs (9-1, 4-1 in ACCAC) scored 59 points in each half and hit 13 shots from 3-point range to beat the Cougars 118-59.
This is the ninth time in their 10 games this season that they have reached at least 100 points.
Pima scored the first eight points of the game and took its first double-digit lead at 14-3 at the 16:46 mark forcing the Cougars (3-4, 0-4) to call timeout.
The Aztecs built their lead to 59-32 at halftime.
They outscored South Mountain 59-27 in the second half and led the game by as many as 59 points late in the second half.
Freshman Cohenj Gonzales led the Aztecs with a game-high 22 points as he went 7 for 10 from the field and 5 for 8 from beyond the arc. He also had five rebounds and six assists.
Sophomores Jaylen Alexander and Dillan Baker (Salpointe) each posted 20 points. Alexander had eight rebounds and three assists while Baker grabbed five boards with three assists.
The Pima bench finished with 45 points.
Sophomore Tanner Poeschl led the reserves, scoring 11 points while making 5 of 7 shots from the field with three rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Sophomore Yahir Garcia (Tucson) went 3 for 5 from three-point range with nine points while freshmen Wes Ball (Marana) and Kota Benson (formerly of Baboquivari) each added eight points.
The Aztecs controlled the glass as they outrebounded South Mountain 63-31.
Freshman Jackson Leyba led Pima with nine rebounds.
The Aztecs are off for the holiday break and will return for the Aztec Holiday Classic from Dec. 28-30 with all games at the West Campus Aztec Gym.
They will play Bismarck (ND) State College on Thursday, Dec. 28 at 3:00 p.m.
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