MATADORS HOST ROUGHRIDERS IN REMATCH OF THRILLER

YUMA, Ariz. (Interstat) — The Arizona Western Matadors look to continue their winning ways and solidify their position near the top of the conference when they host the Yavapai Roughriders in a men’s junior college basketball game Saturday.

The Matadors (14-6) enter the contest having won seven of their last eight games, including a 93-73 road victory over Southern Nevada on Wednesday. They boast one of the region’s most dominant players in forward Marsai Mason, who is averaging a double-double. Mason is coming off a 19-point, 13-rebound performance and had 38 points and 19 rebounds in a win over Central Arizona on Jan. 28. He scored 19 points in the teams’ first meeting.

The visiting Roughriders (5-11) have struggled for consistency but are riding a modest two-game winning streak after defeating Southern Nevada and, most recently, Central Arizona 69-64 on Wednesday. Guard Torin Bosch led Yavapai with 19 points in that victory and has been a bright spot, averaging 17.1 points over his last eight contests.

This matchup is a rematch of a Jan. 21 thriller in Prescott, which Arizona Western won 74-72. In that game, Yavapai rallied from a double-digit deficit but fell just short.

Arizona Western’s high-powered offense, which has scored 90 or more points in four of its last six games, will test a Yavapai defense that has shown recent improvement. The Matadors’ inside presence, led by Mason and Paora Winitana (17 points, 15 rebounds Wednesday), poses a significant challenge.

For Yavapai to pull the road upset, they will need another efficient scoring night from Bosch and continued contributions from Jason Parent and Amari Lawrence, who combined for 21 points in the win over Central Arizona.

Saturday’s game is the second of three scheduled meetings this season between the Arizona Community College Athletic Conference rivals. They will meet again in Prescott on Feb. 25.

Tip-off is set for Saturday afternoon at the House Gymnasium on the Arizona Western College campus.