Apaches Advance to Region Championship with Semifinal Win Over Eastern Arizona
THATCHER, Ariz. — The Cochise College Apaches delivered a dominant second-half performance Thursday night, defeating Eastern Arizona College 90-76 in the NJCAA Region I Semifinals at Guitteau Gymnasium to punch their ticket to the region championship game.
With the victory, Cochise improves to 20-11 on the season and advances to face College of Southern Nevada in the Region I Championship. The Apaches will host the title game after fourth-seeded CSN upset top-seeded Arizona Western 88-87 in the other semifinal.
Cochise and Eastern Arizona battled through a tightly contested first half, with the Gila Monsters holding a narrow 34-33 advantage at the break.
The Apaches came out strong after halftime, using a balanced offensive attack and efficient shooting to take control of the game. Cochise shot an impressive 63.3 percent in the second half and finished the night 32-of-58 from the field (55.2%), creating separation down the stretch.
Freshman guard Teron Murray led all scorers with 25 points and nine rebounds, providing a spark on both ends of the floor for the Apaches.
Freshman Davon Jones followed with 22 points, six rebounds, and five assists, including several key baskets during Cochise's second-half run that helped push the lead into double digits.
Sophomore Jhace Johnson added 16 points and five rebounds, while freshman Emmanuel Jo-Samuel also contributed 16 points to give Cochise four players in double figures.
Naeem Colston chipped in nine points and seven rebounds, helping Cochise control the tempo while limiting turnovers. The Apaches committed just five turnovers compared to 11 by Eastern Arizona, a key factor in the semifinal victory.
Eastern Arizona was led by Kahu Treacher with 16 points, while Derek Collins added 15 points for the Gila Monsters.
Region Championship Up Next
Cochise will now host the NJCAA Region I Championship Game on Saturday, March 7 at 7:00 p.m. inside the Stronghold Gymnasium in Douglas, Arizona, when the Apaches face the College of Southern Nevada.
Region tournament entry fees apply:
• Adults: $10
• Students: $7
• Cochise College students receive free admission with a valid school ID.
The winner will claim the NJCAA Region I Championship and advance to host the NJCAA West District Championship.
The Apaches now return home with a championship opportunity on their floor.