YUMA, Ariz. – The Arizona Western Matadors Men's Basketball team (23-7) earned a trip to the Region I Final, hanging on to beat Cochise College ( 21-10) 62-60 in the Region I Semifinals on Thursday evening in Douglas, Ariz., at  Apache Stronghold Gymnasium.

Matt Anglo scored a team-high 16 points to lead the Matadors to their second Region I Tournament win at Apache Stronghold Gymnasium in the last three seasons.

The Matadors raced out to an early lead, going up by as many as 15 points at 23-8 midway through the first half. Cochise whittled the lead down to seven points at 33-26 before Anglo hit a deep three-pointer to put the Matadors back up 10. Following another small run by the Apaches, the Matadors took a 41-31 lead into the locker room at halftime after Cam Atkinson sank a corner three-pointer.

Cochise cut the Matadors' lead to five points at 45-40 early in the second half, and the Matadors pushed the lead back up to nine points a few minutes later when Edwin Suarez drilled a three-pointer. Aaron Barton stopped a Cochise run with a steal and layup to give the Matadors a 53-46 lead. The Apaches got to within a point at 55-54, but Anglo stepped the free throw line and hit three free throws to make it a two-possession game.  Cochise had the last possession of the game, and a three-point attempt came up short at the buzzer.

Suarez was the Matadors' second-leading scorer, scoring 11 points and grabbing six rebounds, while Barton and Atkinson each scored nine points.

The Matadors will head to Thatcher, Ariz., to play the No. 1 seeded Eastern Arizona Gila Monsters in the Region I Final on Saturday, March 8, at 7:30 pm at Guitteau Gymnasium.