By Jim Richards

SMCC lowered the boom on host Yavapai College Wednesday night, showing the Prescott area what the No.9 team in the nation looks like in a convincing 71-54 victory.

The Cougars led only 30-28 at the half, but broke open the game with a suffocating defense and some strong outside shooting with a couple of hot hands off the bench.

Chris Rizzo came off the bench to hit both 3-point attempts as did Tim Williams. SMCC coach Dan Nichols is hoping the strong outside shooting continues in Saturday night’s key ACCAC meeting with Division I No.20 Eastern Arizona (6-0 ACCAC), in a game that could determine SMCC’s overall conference title hopes.

“We’ll have to win this game if we’re really thinking about (winning the conference),” Nichols said. “Let’s face it --(Eastern) doesn’t plan on losing too many games.
“It should be a low-scoring, bang-it-out type of game which will probably be good for us. If we shoot the ball we’ll win. There have been games we haven’t made anything from the perimeter. The games we lost (Cochise and Arizona Western) we weren’t shooting well.”

Tre Golston scored 16 points and six rebounds and B.J. Dotson scored 10 with four rebounds, Dave Cuen had 15 points and Roy Prieto continued his marksmanship from the outside, hitting 4 of 5 from the field in Wednesday’s win at Yavapai.