THATCHER, Ariz. (Interstat) — In a season-opening men’s junior college basketball game defined by offensive struggles and a frantic finish, the Eastern Arizona Gila Monsters edged the Gillette Pronghorns 73-69 on Friday night.

The game, played on Oct. 31, 2025, saw the Gila Monsters overcome a sloppy second quarter to secure the victory in front of their home crowd. Eastern Arizona improved to 1-0 with the win, while Gillette begins its campaign at 0-1.

Eastern Arizona built a substantial early lead, powered by a 43-point first quarter. However, Gillette mounted a significant comeback in the second quarter, outscoring the Gila Monsters 40-30 to turn what was once a double-digit deficit into a nail-biter in the final minutes.

The contest was ultimately decided by efficiency, or a lack thereof. Despite an identical number of field goal attempts, with both teams shooting 26 of 61 from the floor, Eastern Arizona found a marginal advantage from beyond the arc and a decisive one at the free-throw line. The Gila Monsters connected on 7 of 20 three-point attempts and capitalized on their opportunities at the charity stripe, making 14 of 19. Gillette’s shooting from the line proved costly, as they converted only 10 of 24 free throw attempts.

Turnovers and rebounding also played pivotal roles. Eastern Arizona committed 19 turnovers compared to Gillette’s 13, but the Gila Monsters compensated by dominating the glass, outrebounding the Pronghorns 38 to 30. Gillette’s defensive pressure was evident with 11 steals, yet they were unable to fully overcome their own shooting woes and the rebounding disparity.

Key individual performances fueled the back-and-forth battle. For Eastern Arizona, a balanced scoring attack was led by Derek Collins, who posted 14 points. He was supported by Kahu Treacher, who recorded a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds, and Kofi Peyton, who also added 12 points. Ryan Hunt controlled the paint, pulling down a game-high 11 rebounds.

Gillette’s effort was spearheaded by Rashad McCormick, who tallied 13 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. Jada Bolok provided a spark off the bench with 12 points, while Jaden Smith and Sayed Sayed each contributed 11 points in the losing effort.

The game’s conclusion was chaotic. After a series of timeouts and turnovers in the final 20 seconds, Eastern Arizona’s Brad Ballinger sank two crucial free throws with 19 seconds remaining to extend the lead to 72-69. A last-second three-point attempt by Gillette to tie the game missed its mark, allowing the Gila Monsters to escape with the four-point victory. The outcome aligned with pregame projections from Interstat’s ELO system, which gave Eastern Arizona a 64 percent probability to win.

Both teams return to the court Saturday. Gillette will look to rebound at home against Arizona Western, while Eastern Arizona continues its homestand against Barton.

Gillette Upcoming Schedule: - Nov. 1: vs. Arizona Western - Nov. 8: at Miles - Nov. 19: at Williston State - Nov. 22: at Dawson - Nov. 28: vs. Lake Region State - Nov. 29: vs. Miles - Dec. 6: vs. Dawson - Dec. 10: vs. Williston State - Dec. 18: at Indian Hills - Dec. 19: vs. Snow

Eastern Arizona Upcoming Schedule: - Nov. 1: vs. Barton - Nov. 7: at Snow - Nov. 8: at Utah State Eastern - Nov. 14: vs. Western Nebraska - Nov. 15: vs. Laramie County - Nov. 20: vs. Casper - Nov. 21: vs. North Idaho - Nov. 22: vs. Hagerstown - Dec. 5: at Southern Idaho - Dec. 6: at Colorado Northwestern