Cougar Men's Basketball Sweeps Non-Conference Games against Community Christian

PHOENIX ---

The South Mountain Community College men's basketball team (7-1) defeated Community Christian 79-45 on Friday, Nov. 21 and 77-56 on Saturday, Nov. 22, in a pair of non-conference games at the SMCC Gym. Freshman Travis Vasquez led SMCC with 22 points, and sophomores Parker Escalante and Blake Carabio scored 11 points apiece in the Nov. 21 victory. The next day, freshman I'yar Shadowvine scored a team-high 21 points, freshman Semajay James had 12 points, and freshman Gak Kueth posted 10 points as the Cougars defeated the Saints for the second time in as many days. 

Nov. 21 Recap 

SMCC led start to finish against the Saints in their Friday night meeting. The Cougars limited Community Christian to 16.7 percent shooting (4 of 24) in the first half to take a 35-14 lead into halftime. Community Christian improved to 30.8 percent (8 of 26) in the second half to finish at 24 percent (12 of 50) from the field for the game. 

The Cougars finished the game shooting 45.2 percent (33 of 73) from the field in the 79-45 victory. The Cougars also totaled 52 rebounds, 17 assists, nine steals, and two blocks. 

Vasquez was an efficient 9 of 14 from the floor and 4 of 7 from 3-point range in 30 minutes. He added five rebounds and a steal and is averaging 13.9 points, 4.8 rebounds, and 4.6 assists in eight games this season. 

Escalante scored 11 points in 24 minutes, adding three rebounds and an assist in the victory. He is averaging 13.0 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.9 assists in seven games. 

Carabio came off the bench to score 11 points in 19 minutes on 5 of 9 shooting with a 3-pointer. He added a rebound and a steal, and is averaging 15.3 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 1.8 assists in eight contests. 

Freshman Jadden Jones led SMCC with 12 rebounds to set a new season best, and he added six points, two assists, and two steals in 28 minutes. Shadowvine finished with four points, three assists, three steals, and a rebound in 21 minutes before he fouled out. 

Freshman Devone Pless stuffed the stat sheet in 19 minutes off the bench. He recorded six points, seven rebounds, six assists, and two blocks in 20 minutes. James posted nine rebounds, three points, two steals, and an assist in 18 minutes, while freshman Dylan Eaddy had three points, three rebounds, and two assists. 

Nov. 22 Recap

The second match-up between the two squads proved to be a closer contest, with SMCC holding a 32-24 lead at halftime. SMCC held a 23-12 rebounding advantage in the period and got three 3-pointers to take an eight-point lead. 

In the second half, SMCC shot 56.3 percent (18 of 32) from the field and made four 3-pointers to win the frame 45-32. The Cougars totaled 45 rebounds, 16 assists, six steals, and a block in the victory. 

Shadowvine went 8 of 12 from the floor and knocked down two 3-pointers in 27 minutes to lead all players with 21 points. He added four assists and a steal, and is averaging 14.9 points, 2.0 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.4 steals in eight games. 

Vasquez was second on the team with 13 points, shooting 5 of 10 with two 3-pointers in 31 minutes. He added two rebounds and two assists. 

James came off the bench to post 12 points, nine rebounds, and three assists in 16 minutes, while Kueth set a new season high with his 10 points while adding four rebounds in 16 minutes. 

Escalante recorded nine points, three rebounds, two steals, one block, and one assist in 30 minutes, while Jones grabbed a dozen rebounds for the second-straight game to go with five points and three assists.