Rally falls short for CAC men

SIGNAL PEAK — After erasing most of a late 10-point deficit, the valiant comeback bid fell agonizingly short for Central Arizona College in Tuesday night's men's basketball game at the George Young Activity Center.

Eastern Arizona held on for a 67-65 victory to hand the Vaqueros their second consecutive home loss. On Saturday, CAC lost 87-84 in overtime to Arizona Western.

"The frustrating thing is we're playing well for 90 percent of the game, but then we have that 10 percent where our mental lapses keep us from getting over the hurdle," CAC coach Tramaine Aaron said. "We're also not getting to the 50-50 balls. That costs us possessions, and that's the difference in (close) games."

The Vaqueros fell to 4-4 overall and 1-2 in the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference despite getting 25 points and 18 rebounds from Josh Rideau. Karriem Simmons scored 15 points for Central, which shot just 35 percent from the field.

CAC was without Trace Dimeff, the team's second-leading scorer with a 15.5 average and its top three-point shooter. Under ACCAC protocol that applies to all types of injuries, Dimeff is "out until being cleared to return to play," athletic director Chuck Schnoor said.

DeAndre Love had 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Gila Monsters (9-1, 3-0 ACCAC). Darrian Ringo scored 13 points, all in the second half.

Eastern took a 60-50 lead on two free throws by Love with 5:08 remaining. The Vaqueros came storming back with a 10-0 run that began with Mike Nwabuzor's three-pointer and ended on Rideau's layup through traffic that tied it 60-60 with 2:28 to play.

Jaraan Lands' basket with 2:02 left put the Gila Monsters ahead to stay.

Central closed within 64-63 on two free throws by Rideau with 27.6 seconds remaining and 66-65 when Nwabuzor made two free throws with 14.7 seconds left.

After Ringo made 1 of 2 from the line with 14.7 seconds remaining, the Vaqueros had a chance to tie or take the lead. But Nwabuzor was denied on a drive, and the Gila Monsters ran out the clock after controlling the rebound.

"This stings a little more because it's a conference game, but the silver lining is we're a young team that's going to get better," Aaron said. "We just have to stay focused on finishing."

There were five ties and five lead changes in the first half, which ended with Eastern up 31-30.

Rideau scored Central's first nine points of the second half as the Vaqueros took a two-point lead three times in the opening three minutes. Following two free throws by Simmons that put CAC ahead 41-39 with 14:00 to play, the Gila Monsters regained the lead on Ringo's three-point play.

Rideau scored 17 points in the second half. He went 8 for 18 from the field, including 3 of 5 on three-pointers, and 6 for 6 from the line.

Eastern shot 41 percent from the field. The Gila Monsters outscored the Vaqueros 12-4 in second-chance points in the second half.