James has double-double but men's basketball falls to New Mexico JC

The Pima Community College men's basketball team (4-1) suffered its first defeat on Thursday in the first day of the Tohono O'odham Community College Native American Classic.

The Aztecs fell to New Mexico Junior College (Division I) 99-86.

Pima took its first lead since the opening minutes of the game when sophomore Deion James (Empire HS) made a technical foul free throw to put the Aztecs up 40-39 with 18:00 minutes left. The Thunderbirds went on an 11-0 run in the next two and a half minutes to take a 50-40 advantage. The Aztecs were able to cut the lead to six points on two occasions but that was as close as they got.

In the first half, the Aztecs surrendered a 15-4 run and trailed 30-19 with five minutes left. They closed the gap with an 11-4 run in the final 2:49 as the Aztecs trailed 39-36 at the break.

James finished the game with a double-double of 25 points and 10 rebounds. Fellow sophomore Emilio Acedo (Salpointe Catholic HS) hit four 3-pointers and contributed with 19 points, five rebounds and two steals. Freshman Isaiah Murphy (Cienega HS) had 15 points for the game.

The Aztecs will be right back at the West Campus gym for the second day of the Native American Classic. They'll play No. 10 Salt Lake Community College, last year's NJCAA Division I champions, at 6:00 p.m.

NMJC     39     60     99
PCC        36     50     86