Apaches Capture Region I Championship, Advance to West District Title Game

The Cochise College men's basketball team delivered a dominant performance Saturday night in Douglas, defeating the College of Southern Nevada 102–76 to capture the NJCAA Region I Championship and punch their ticket to the West District Championship game. 

With the win, the Apaches improve to 21–11 overall and will host College of Southern Idaho in the West District Championship on Saturday, March 14 at 7:00 p.m. inside the Stronghold Gymnasium. 

Cochise set the tone early, building momentum in the first half behind balanced scoring and strong defense. The Apaches carried a 45–37 halftime lead before pulling away in the second half with a high-powered offensive surge that saw them shoot nearly 58% from the field for the game. 

Five Cochise players scored in double figures in the championship victory. Sophomore Jhace Johnson led the way with 22 points and five assists, while freshman Emmanuel Jo Samuel added 21 points, knocking down five three-pointers. 

Freshman Teron Murray contributed 20 points and seven rebounds, and freshman Davon Jones added 11 points and four rebounds. Inside, Naeem Colston controlled the glass with 13 rebounds to go along with nine points, helping Cochise dominate the paint and the boards.

The Apaches controlled the game in several key statistical categories, outrebounding CSN 39–22, scoring 42 points in the paint, and finishing with 26 assists on 37 made field goals. 

The victory secured Cochise its NJCAA Region I Championship and sends the Apaches one step away from the national tournament.

Cochise will now host the NJCAA West District Championship against College of Southern Idaho on Saturday, March 14 at 7:00 p.m. in Douglas, Arizona.

District Entry Fees:

• Adults: $10

• Students: $7

• Cochise College students receive free admission with a valid school ID.

The winner of the West District Championship will advance to the NJCAA Men's Basketball National Tournament.