Arizona Western Junior College (13-4) came into Wednesday evening's match-up with host Phoenix College (11-6), looking to continue to make a run at the first place position among the standings in the conference (ACCAC). To get themselves the tough road victory, they would need to slow down a surging Phoenix College team - winners of their last 7 games on the season.
Arizona Western (AWC) would get out to a fast start in the game - taking a 13-8 lead 6 minutes into the game after consecutive three-pointers from talented sophomore guards Marvin Whitt and Aaseem Dixon. Another driving layup from Whitt would give Arizona Western a 17-8 lead with 12:54 left to play in the first half.
While Phoenix College would finally get their offense going late in the first half, another three-pointer from freshman guard Anthony Alston would put AZ Western in front, 31-23 with 3:11 remaining in the half.
Phoenix College would go on an 8 to 3 run to end the half, but an offensive tap in from 6-foot-8 sophomore forward Tanner Clayton would help Arizona Western take a 34-31 lead into halftime.
Phoenix College 6-foot-5 sophomore forward Chris Mason would lead all scorers with 13 points at the half.
In the second half, Arizona Western would look to pull away after a basket inside after being fouled by Tanner Clayton. Clayton's three-point play would give AWC a 40-33 lead early in the half.
But Phoenix College would quickly turn things around. With 11:30 left to play in the half, sophomore guard Chris Solomon would tie the game at 45 all, after a driving layup in traffic. Phoenix would then take the game's lead, 47-45, after a mid-range jumper in transition from sophomore point guard James Pierce.
Both teams would fight hard over the next 5 minutes of the game, until a three-pointer from the corner from freshman guard Cameron Isreal would give Phoenix College a narrow, 3-point lead - 58-55.
With 1:38 left to play in regulation, Marvin Whitt would put Arizona Western ahead 63-61, after a big three-pointer from the wing.
Chris Mason would tie the game at 63 all for Phoenix, after a driving layup in traffic around a defender with :45 seconds left to play in the game.
Arizona Western would then hold the basketball for one final shot attempt, but would miss two different shot attempts before the buzzer would sound - sending the game into overtime.
In overtime, Marvin Whitt would finish another big shot, after a drive to the basket would give his Matadors a 65-64 lead with 2:51 left to play. Then Arizona Western's 7-foot freshman post Ivan Rangel Uribe would ice the game for Arizona Western - making 3 of 4 free-throws down the stretch for his team and giving Arizona Western the 71-67 victory.
Chris Mason would lead all scorers with 19 points, while Chris Solomon would finish with 16 points in the loss. Arizona Western would be led by Anthony Alston's 14 points, while Marvin Whitt and Tanner Clayton would both contribute 12 points each in the win.
