By GERARDO CASTRO
Pima Post
Pima Community College men’s basketball team (13-8) returned to its home court last night at the West Campus Aztec Gymnasium where the team faced off against Phoenix College (10-9) in a close one.
Both teams started off slowly. The score was a mere 2-3 for the first five minutes of the game.
Freshman Traivar Jackson started to get things going for the Aztecs both on the offensive and defensive end as the team was feeding him in the post. He finished with 33 points and 8 blocks.
Coach Peabody subbed in freshmen Jalen Johnson around the 12-minute mark as the team needed an offensive spark off the bench. Johnson finished with 15 points on an efficient 60 percent shooting performance.
At the end of the first half, the Aztecs led the Bears 49-39.
The second half was different, however, as some of the Aztecs’ four-game skid woes started to show and the Bears took advantage of that to make the game close going on a 20-9 run.
Phoenix College, however, did end up taking a brief lead 69-66 with 8:27 left in the game, but this was a must win for the Aztecs as they couldn’t afford to drop a fifth game especially with the end of the season nearing.
The Aztecs went on to go on a 7-0 run to regain the lead 73-69 with 6:51 left to play, and the team never gave up the lead.
Both teams exchanged buckets down to the end, but the Bears couldn’t seem to get that extra stop against the Aztecs.
Sophomore Daniel Moody had a dunk to make the lead 85-81, but Phoenix College countered with a 3 pointer to cut the lead 85-84
The following possession the Aztecs passed the ball to freshman Itury Kitt who drained a 3 pointer of his own to put Pima on top 88-84.
The final score was 94-87 as the Aztecs snapped it’s four game losing streak
The men’s basketball team will be back in action 4 p.m. Saturday against Glendale Community College at the West Campus Gymnasium.