MEN: Jags end City’s PCAC win streak

By Ramon Scott
Updated: January 26, 2019

2019 COMMUNITY COLLEGE MEN’S BASKETBALL

EastCountySports.com staff report

CHULA VISTA (1-26-2019) – So little has separated Southwestern and San Diego City colleges over the past five years, and it only took a little to decide the first of two meetings between these annual contenders for the South Division title of the Pacific Coast Athletic Conference.

Southwestern guard Marq Stephens beat a one-on-one defender to release a 15-foot shot from the left side of the key, draining the buzzer-beater to send the Jaguars to a dramatic 81-79 triumph over the visiting Knights.

Not only did Southwestern (17-4 overall, 3-0 PCAC) assume first place, they snapped City’s 4-year, 30-game win streak within the division. The Knights fell to 11-10 (2-1 PCAC).

Stephens dribbled the ball at midcourt with the final seconds ticking away, faked a drive to the right, then crossed to the left side, pulling up for a clean look from the “elbow” swish. Obviously, Stephens was mobbed by teammates and the nearby bench.

GAME TIME!!! @marqmarq20 with the step back to win the game at the buzzer vs San Diego City. The win puts us at 17-4 on the season and 3-0 in conference. #JagSzn pic.twitter.com/GNEKmdVEhl
— Aaron Douglas (@CoachADouglas) January 26, 2019

Stephens finished with 16 points, while Nathaniel Pearson led Southwestern with 24. In addition, Jordan Cooke added 11 points, while Tyler Simmons had 10.

For SDCC, Nashom Carter posted team-highs of 19 points and 6 boards, while Joseph Riley added 15 points from off the bench.

City held a 74-70 lead with five minutes remaining before the Jags elevated their game.

After both defenses clamped down to prevent any scoring for two minutes, Stephens broke through with a 3-point bucket to move the Jags within a single point, 71-70, with 3:08 remaining. City answered with a free throw, but a Stephens drive to the basket resulted in two free throws to tie the contest with 2:12 left.

Southwestern then took the lead on a Marc Combs steal for a layin at 1:54, but then gave up the lead just as quickly when City’s Joseph Riley score from in the paint.

SWC’s Jordan Cook scored a layin at the 1-minute mark for a 79-77 lead, but City equalized on a Carter layin with 18 seconds left. That’s when Stephens won his one-on-one battle to win the ballgame.

San Diego City held a 51-43 halftime lead, but Southwestern’s 52 percent shooting percentage from the floor (28-for-54) allowed them to rally.
The Jaguars have now won 8 straight. The rematch is slated for Fri., Feb. 15, at City’s Harry West Gym.

San Diego Mesa 84, Cuyamaca 67: The host Olympians were able to avoid the trap defense employed by the Coyotes to remain unbeaten in PCAC South Division play after capturing this game at Mesa.

Nick Koronko paced Mesa (7-13 overall, 3-0 PCAC) with 18 points from off the bench, while starting guard Aren Thomas added 17 points and 5 assists.
Cuyamaca (3-18, 0-3 PCAC) did not provide a game report.

Imperial Valley 73, Grossmont 66: The host Arabs are pretty much locked into third place unless they can upset Southwestern or San Diego City somewhere down the line. IVC (8-12 overall, 1-2 PCAC)) bounced the visiting Griffins (3-18, 0-3 PCAC) at DePaoli Sports Complex in Imperial.
Imperial Valley did not provide a game report.

PCAC North

Mt. San Jacinto 97, Palomar 71: The visiting Comets gave yet another strong first half effort, but rank out of gas in the second half to fall to the state ranked Eagles.

The Comets held a surprising 35-33 lead, when guard Jamario Harris registered 14 of his team-high 23 points. Palomar (6-12 overall, 0-3 PCAC) remains winless in January after suffering its seventh straight setback.

Mt. San Jacinto (18-2, 3-0 PCAC) rallied by shooting a blistering 68.6 percent (24-for-35) from the floor in the second half, when guard David Thompson registered all of his 16 points. Thompson also posted 5 assists and 5 steals.
Meanwhile, Deshawn Millington, another Eagles guard, was the team leader with 17 points.

San Bernardino Valley 92, Desert 62: At Palm Desert, the state-ranked Wolverines mounted a 54-29 halftime cushion over the host Roadrunners to post an easy triumph.

All five starters for SBVC (16-5 overall, 3-0 PCAC) scored in double figures, including double-doubles by Cameron Butler (21 points, 10 rebounds) and K’Lon Williams (10 points, 14 boards).

For College of the Desert (10-11, 1-2 PCAC), Nicholas Pete led the Roadrunners with 11 points.

MiraCosta 70, Miramar 58: At Oceanside, no report from the host (and victorious) Spartans.

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