COCHISE COUNTY, Ariz. (Interstat) — In a game defined by a decisive second-half surge, the Cochise College Apaches overcame a halftime deficit to defeat the Eastern Arizona College Gila Monsters 83-71 in a men’s junior college basketball game Saturday.

The contest, played before a home crowd at Cochise, saw the Apaches improve to 7-7 overall while Eastern Arizona fell to 10-8.

The first half was a tightly contested offensive showcase, with Eastern Arizona taking a narrow 71-70 lead into the break. The Gila Monsters shot efficiently early, but Cochise kept pace behind the scoring of Teron Murray and Emmanuel Jo Samuel. The opening period featured 10 lead changes and neither team led by more than five points.

The most important part of the game, however, was a transformative 19-2 run by Cochise that spanned the middle of the second half. With the score tied at 56 and just over 10 minutes remaining, the Apaches clamped down defensively. They forced a series of Eastern Arizona turnovers and missed shots, converting them into transition opportunities. The run, fueled by Davon Jones and Jhace Johnson, gave Cochise a commanding 75-58 lead from which the Gila Monsters never recovered. Eastern Arizona was held to just 36 points in the second half, shooting 26 percent from the field after the intermission.

Jones, named the top star for Cochise, led the Apaches with 21 points and eight rebounds, adding two steals. His performance marked a return to form after scoring just 11 and eight points in his previous two outings. Murray provided a game-high 26 points, and Emmanuel Jo Samuel added 17, including five 3-pointers. Jhace Johnson posted a well-rounded line of 13 points, nine rebounds and four assists.

For Eastern Arizona, Ryan Hunt recorded a double-double with 19 points and 14 rebounds. Malachi Seely-Roberts contributed 13 points off the bench, and Kahu Treacher added 11.

Statistically, Cochise’s efficiency proved decisive. The Apaches shot 46.7 percent from the field and 42.9 percent from 3-point range, compared to Eastern Arizona’s 41.3 percent and 26.1 percent, respectively. Cochise also capitalized at the free-throw line, making 18 of 23 attempts, and committed only five turnovers while forcing nine. Despite being outrebounded 43-29, the Apaches’ superior ball security and shot-making in the second half carried the day.

Eastern Arizona entered the game with a slight edge according to predictive metrics, but Cochise’s second-half execution flipped the script. The Apaches snapped a three-game losing streak with the victory.

Eastern Arizona next hosts Southern Nevada on Wednesday. Cochise travels to face Central Arizona, also on Wednesday. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in Thatcher on Feb. 4.