Cochise uses strong second half to rout Scottsdale CC in ACCAC opener 106-65

The Cochise College men's basketball team overcame a sluggish offensive output against the Scottsdale CC Artichokes in the ACCAC opener. 

The win is the seventh in a row for the Apaches. After coming out and tallying a 36-36 all-tie score in the first stanza, the Apaches used super ball movement and defensive stops to outscore the Artichokes 70-29 in the second half. Newcomer Jay Rodgers led the attack with 25 points and made seven 3-point field goals. Last year's ACCAC Player of the Year, Stephen "Tank" Byard recorded a double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds. Freshman Tyreese Watson and Oscar Cluff added 15 and 14 points, respectively, in the win. 

Cochise is now 7-0 overall and 1-0 in ACCAC play. 

"We challenged our guys at halftime to be more disciplined on both ends of the floor, and to their credit, they responded," head coach Jerry Carrillo said. "Jay shot the ball very well tonight and opened things up for us in the second half." Sophomore Guard Jalun Trent added, "Coach really challenged us at halftime to have more defensive integrity and move the ball on offense."

UP NEXT

The Apaches go back on the road on Saturday, Nov. 20, to play against Mess CC a 4 p.m. On Sunday, the team travels to El Paso, Texas, to take on Ranger College in a huge inter-region game at Eastwood High School. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.