Gila Monsters, Roughriders Set for Rematch Wednesday

PRESCOTT, Ariz. (Interstat) — The Eastern Arizona College Gila Monsters visit the Yavapai College Roughriders on Wednesday night in an Arizona Community College Athletic Conference men’s basketball matchup, a rematch of a nail-biter from earlier this month.

Eastern Arizona (12-8 overall) enters on a stronger trajectory, having won four of its last five games, including a 94-90 overtime road victory at Arizona Western on Jan. 24. Yavapai (3-10) seeks to end a six-game losing streak, with its last five defeats coming by an average margin of just 4.6 points.

The Gila Monsters edged the Roughriders 79-77 in Thatcher on Jan. 10. Eastern Arizona’s Ryan Hunt scored 17 points in that contest and has been on a tear since, averaging a double-double over his last five meaningful appearances. Hunt is coming off a 16-point, 13-rebound performance in the overtime win at Arizona Western.

Yavapai will counter with guard Torin Bosch, who scored 17 points in the first meeting. Bosch has been a consistent scorer during the losing streak, averaging 14.4 points over his last five games. He led the Roughriders with 15 points in a narrow 83-80 loss at Cochise on Jan. 24.

Eastern Arizona’s offense has found a rhythm, scoring 90 or more points in three of its last four wins. Alongside Hunt, Kahu Treacher provided a boost with 23 points against Arizona Western.

Yavapai’s challenge will be closing out a tight game, a hurdle it failed to clear in the previous matchup and in recent losses to Arizona Western (74-72) and Cochise. Alex Pierce and Jason Parent have provided secondary scoring behind Bosch.

The game tips off at 7:30 p.m. MST at Yavapai College. Following this contest, Eastern Arizona travels to face Central Arizona on Jan. 31, while Yavapai hosts Southern Nevada the same day.