Mesa CC Edges SMCC Men's Basketball in ACCAC Action

PHOENIX ---

The South Mountain Community College men's basketball team (7-9, 2-3 ACCAC) lost 73-69 to Mesa CC in an ACCAC home game on Jan. 8 at the SMCC Gym. Sophomore Cash Callaway led SMCC with 24 points, including five 3-pointers, and three other Cougars finished in double-figures, but the Thunderbirds used a late run in the second half to take the victory. 

Callaway finished an old-fashioned three-point play with 7:30 to play to put SMCC up 56-49. From there, MCC went on a 13-0 run to take a 62-56 lead with 3:34 left in the game. 

After MCC pushed the lead back to 68-60, the Cougars fought back and closed to within 69-67 with 51 seconds left following a lay-up from sophomore Nathan Robinson. The Thunderbirds responded with a lay-up, but sophomore Jacob Taylor answered with one of his own to make it 71-69 with 21 seconds left. 

Two free throws from MCC pushed the lead back to four, and SMCC missed a pair of 3-pointers in the final 10 seconds. 

SMCC led 33-32 at halftime and shot 45.5 percent (25 of 55) from the floor for the game. The Cougars grabbed 24 rebounds and added 13 assists, 13 steals, and four blocks in defeat. 

Callaway was 8 of 15 overall and 5 of 8 from downtown in 33 minutes. He also led the team with six rebounds, five assists, and three steals in the contest. 

Robinson posted 13 points on 5 of 11 shooting and added four rebounds, three assists, four steals, and two blocks in 27 minutes off the bench. 

Freshman Drew Hoxie also scored 13 points for SMCC, finishing 5 of 8 from the floor in 29 minutes. He posted two blocks, one rebound, and one steal. 

Taylor finished with 10 points and added three rebounds, three steals, and two assists in 32 minutes.