The MCC Pioneers lost a closely contested matchup against South Mountain CC, falling 76-74 despite leading for nearly the entire game. The Pioneers held a significant halftime advantage of 12 points but struggled in the second half, with poor shooting and missed free throws proving costly. A buzzer-beater by South Mountain sealed the defeat for MCC in their Arizona finale on New Year's Eve.

By the Numbers
  • Pioneers shot 46% (23-50 FG) overall and 10-24 (42%) from three-point range.
  • Shooting only 35% in the second half, MCC missed 7 crucial free throws, finishing at 62% (18-29).
  • South Mountain outrebounded the Pioneers 50-33, with 22 offensive rebounds to MCC's 6.
  • Azenio Cossa led MCC with 19 points, while Uwami Congo added 18 points off the bench.
Yes, But

The Pioneers had a strong first half performance, shooting 56% from the field and establishing a double-digit lead. However, their inability to maintain that energy and accuracy in the second half raises concerns about their performance consistency.

State of Play
  • The Pioneers finish non-conference play with a record of 7-11.
  • The MonDak Conference schedule kicks off on January 8, where they will host Dawson CC at 7:30 PM MST.
What's Next

Looking ahead, the Pioneers will need to address their second-half shooting issues and free throw efficiency ahead of their MonDak Conference opener. Improvement in rebounding and maintaining leads will be critical for their upcoming games.

Bottom Line

The narrow loss underscores the importance of consistency and execution in college basketball. The Pioneers must capitalize on their strengths to turn their season around and find success in conference play.