SMCC Men's Basketball Defeats Scottsdale CC to Claim Season Series

PHOENIX ---

The South Mountain Community College men's basketball team (11-17, 6-10 ACCAC) defeated Scottsdale CC 77-61 in an ACCAC road game on Saturday, Feb. 22, at the SCC Gymnasium. Freshman McKay Anderson came off the bench to score a season-high 21 points on seven 3-pointers, sophomore Jacob Taylor finished with 19, and sophomore Cash Callaway added 15 as the Cougars won the season series with the Fighting Artichokes. 

The victory over SCC and the subsequent series win gives SMCC a chance to qualify for the Region I Division II postseason. SMCC will need to defeat Mesa CC and Chandler-Gilbert CC at home and have Scottsdale CC finish 1-1 in road contests at Glendale CC and Pima CC. If that happens, the Cougars would claim the fourth and final seed in the tournament with a semifinal game at Pima CC. 

SMCC led 34-31 at halftime and pulled away 43-30 in the second half to seal the victory. SMCC shot 47.5 percent (29 of 61) from the floor and added 31 rebounds, 10 3-pointers, 31 rebounds, 13 assists, two steals, and five blocks in the win. 

Anderson was 7 of 10 from the floor and 7 of 9 from 3-point range in 26 minutes. He added two rebounds and is averaging 5.3. points, 1.8 rebounds, and 2.0 assists in 27 games this season. 

Taylor was 6 of 15 from the field with two 3-pointers in 31 minutes. He added five rebounds and two blocks, and he is averaging 10.7 points, 3.4 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in 28 games. 

Callaway was 7 of 14 from the field in 30 minutes and dished out five assists. He also had four rebounds and one steal and is now averaging 18.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, and 3.0 assists in 28 games. 

Freshman Drew Hoxie finished with eight points, three rebounds, and three blocks, and sophomore Julius Williams led SMCC with eight assists to go with eight points and six rebounds in 30 minutes.