Pima media-relations director Ray Suarez contributed information for this report:
Salpointe graduate Dillan Baker reached 1,000 points in his two-year Pima College career in the 113-79 victory over South Mountain on Saturday in the final home game of the Aztecs’ regular season.
The No. 14 Aztecs (26-3, 18-3 in ACCAC) won their 12th straight game with the win over the Cougars (11-18, 6-15).
The Aztecs hold a one-game lead over Chandler-Gilbert Community College for the No. 1 seed in the NJCAA Region I, Division II tournament.
Pima closes out the regular season on Monday at Eastern Arizona College (Division I) at 5:30 p.m. If Pima wins, it clinches the top seed and will host the regional tournament.
The Coyotes play at Yavapai College.
·Baker reached the 1,000-career point milestone when he drained a 3-pointer near the Pima bench early in the second half to put the score at 53-42 with 18:47 left.
He is the fourth player under coach Brian Peabody to reach 1,000 career points, joining Murphy Gershman, Abram Carrasco and Traivar Jackson.
Baker finished with a game-high 26 points as he now has 1,011 points. He went 10 for 16 from the field and 6 for 8 from beyond the arc. He also added four rebounds and four assists.
Ahead 60-46 with 17:30 left to play, the Aztecs went on a 16-4 run that was capped by freshman Wes Ball’s (Marana) 3-point play and Baker’s 3-pointer to make it 76-50.
Freshman Cohenj Gonzales finished with a double-double of 16 points and 11 assists. He was 6 for 8 from the field and 5 for 6 from downtown.
·The frontcourt of Ball, sophomore Jaylen Alexander and freshman Gabe Oldham helped take over the game as they combined for 47 points, 23 rebounds and 22 for 28 (.786) from the field.
Ball and Alexander each scored 16 points. Ball was 7 for 11 and grabbed nine rebounds while Alexander was 8 for 10 and pulled eight boards. Oldham went 7 for 7 from the field with 15 points and six rebounds off the bench.
Sophomore Moses Demalek added nine points and seven rebounds while freshman Kota Benson contributed with eight points, five rebounds and four assists.
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