The Pima Community College men’s basketball team (11-0, 4-0 in ACCAC) earned its 11th straight win on Wednesday in a close matchup at Scottsdale Community College (8-6, 3-1) in a game between two undefeated teams in ACCAC Division II.
The No. 8 ranked Aztecs handed the Artichokes their first conference defeat after their 84-80 win.
The Aztecs led 80-72 after freshman Isaiah Hill’s (Premier Prep Academy) score but the Artichokes went on an 8-2 run and capped it off with three made free throws to make it 82-80 with 13.4 seconds left. Hill was fouled and made two foul shots with 12.9 seconds remaining. Scottsdale missed a three-point attempt, and the Aztecs collected the rebound to seal it.
Sophomore Mason Hunt (Bradshaw Mountain HS) found his shot early as he scored 12 of Pima’s 16 points to start the game as they took the lead and never relinquished it. Pima’s biggest lead was 10 points at 34-24 with 6:26 left in the first half.
The Aztecs were forced to keep the Artichokes at bay as Scottsdale continued to chip away. Pima led 39-37 with 2:53 left in the half and freshman Gerron Graham (Premier Prep Academy) converted on a three-point to give the Aztecs a little breathing room. The Aztecs took a 45-41 lead into the locker room.
Hunt hit a jumper to put the score at 56-47, but the Artichokes followed with a 10-2 run to cut it to 58-57. Graham and sophomore Isaac Johnson converted on back-to-back three-point plays, and freshman Will Feagles (Notre Dame Prep) hit a three-pointer to match Pima’s biggest lead of the second half at nine points (67-58).
Hunt again scored jumpers on two straight possessions to keep the lead at nine points as Pima led 75-66 with 4:24 left. The Aztecs would hold a nine-point advantage on one final occasion after Hill’s three-pointer put the score at 78-69 with 2:35 left.
Hunt scored a team-high 29 points for the second straight game as he went 10 for 19 from the field to go with seven rebounds. Hill closed out the game with 17 points, six rebounds, six assists and two steals. He went 6 for 8 shooting.
Johnson shot 5 for 9 from the field with 12 points and seven rebounds while Feagles also added 12 points after going 4 for 7 from beyond the arc. Graham contributed with 12 points off the bench.
The Aztecs shot 60 percent from the field (30 for 50) and 42.1 percent from three-point range (8 for 19). They were 16 for 29 (55.2 percent) from the foul line
The Aztecs will return from winter break on Monday, Dec. 29 for the Aztecs Winter Classic.