Freshman Jake Lieppert (Saguaro HS) scored a game-high 38 points but the Aztecs men's basketball team fell 85-84 on Wednesday to Phoenix College. The Aztecs are now 11-7 overall and 5-5 in ACCAC conference play. Photo by Stephanie Van Latum.
Freshman Jake Lieppert (Saguaro HS) scored a game-high 38 points but the Aztecs men's basketball team fell 85-84 on Wednesday to Phoenix College. The Aztecs are now 11-7 overall and 5-5 in ACCAC conference play. Photo by Stephanie Van Latum.

Lieppert scores 38 but Aztecs men's basketball falters in second half to Phoenix College

The Pima Community College men's basketball team (11-7, 5-5 in ACCAC) dominated the first half against Phoenix College (12-6, 6-4) on Wednesday but the Aztecs could not hang on in the end.

  • The Aztecs led by as much as 25 points in the first half but a last second shot rattled around the cylinder but didn't drop as Pima fell 85-84.
  • The Aztecs led 84-82 with 25.7 seconds left but Treyvon McCray hit a three-pointer as the Bears called timeout with 4.9 seconds left. Sophomore Rashad Smith (Hamilton HS) got the inbounds and put up the last second attempt.
  • The Aztecs came out on fire as freshman Jake Lieppert scored 14 of Pima's 19 points to start the game. Pima went 9 for 13 from three-point range and held a 48-23 lead with 5:35 left in the half. The Bears closed out the half on a 16-6 run but the Aztecs still held a 54-39 advantage heading into the locker room.
  • Up 73-71, Lieppert fouled out of the game with 6:07 left and the Bears took their first lead at 74-73 with 5:42 left. With the game tied at 77-77, sophomore Jordan Robinson collected a steal and scored on the other end. Freshman Herbie Arana's (Rio Rico HS) basket made it 81-77 with a little over two minutes remaining.
  • Lieppert scored a game-high 38 points as he went 10 for 19 from three-point range. He scored 27 points in the first half and was 7 for 11 from the arc. Robinson finished with 15 points, six rebounds, five assists and two steals. Smith had nine points, eight assists and five rebounds.
  • The Aztecs shot 41 percent from three-point range in the first half and 22 percent in the second half.

The Aztecs look to bounce back on Saturday at Glendale Community college. Tipoff is at 4:00 p.m.

PC     39   46   85
PCC  54   30   84