SMCC Men's Hoops Concludes 2022-23 Season

PHOENIX ---

The South Mountain Community College men's basketball team (14-16, 6-16 ACCAC) concluded its 2022-23 season with a 96-65 loss at Cochise College on Feb. 25 and an 85-76 home loss to Mesa CC on Feb. 28. The Cougars and their sophomore quintet of Darien Allen, Khabri Davis, Steven Cervantes, Abdi Odowaay and Kiai Apele fought to the bitter end and nearly played the role of spoiler while representing SMCC with honor and integrity throughout the campaign. 

Cochise College Recap

The Apaches led 47-30 at halftime and won the second half 49-35 en route to a 96-65 win on Feb. 25 in Douglas, Ariz. SMCC shot 39 percent (23-of-59) from the field and made 11 3-pointers. The Cougars added 23 rebounds, 19 assists and 12 steals in the loss. 

Freshman Jaylen Wesley led SMCC with 17 points, finishing 5-of-9 from the field with three 3-pointers. He added four rebounds, three assists and two steals in 27 minutes. 

Odowaay was second on the squad with 15 points, connecting on five 3-pointers. He added seven rebounds, four assists and four steals. Davis came off the bench to score 11 points and post four rebounds, two assists and two steals.

Mesa CC Recap 

SMCC trailed 41-40 at halftime, but the Thunderbirds extended the lead with a 44-36 second half to win 85-76 on the Cougars' Sophomore Night. 

Wesley came off the bench to finish with 22 points in 29 minutes. He went 8-of-15 from the field and added six rebounds, two assists, two steals and a block. He averaged a team-high 15.6 points in 30 games in 2022-23 and posted 5.1 rebounds and 1.7 assists per contest. 

Davis finished with a career-high 20 points and four 3-pointers in 24 minutes. He added six rebounds in the game and averaged 7.0 points and 3.9 rebounds in 29 games as a sophomore. 

Allen posted 12 points on 5-of-9 shooting. He added four rebounds, two assists, and two steals in 26 minutes. Odowaay finished with nine points, and freshman Jimmy Causey Jr. had five. 

Allen averaged 12.0 points and 4.3 rebounds in his sophomore season while Odowaay posted 7.2 points, 2.4 rebounds and 2.1 assists per game.