CHULA VISTA, Calif. (Interstat) — Aaron Owens scored 21 points and grabbed 14 rebounds as Southwestern outlasted Desert 106-97 in a double-overtime men’s junior college basketball game Friday. The Spartans improved to 1-1, while the Roadrunners also moved to 1-1. Southwestern needed two extra periods to finish off a Desert team that stayed close throughout and twice answered when the Spartans threatened to pull away.

Owens, Southwestern’s top performer, added three assists in 44 minutes. Payton Joseph powered Desert with 26 points, 10 rebounds, three assists and one block in 46 minutes. Tres Luzey supplied 31 points and six rebounds for the Spartans. Dariel Bahamontes added 20 points, 10 rebounds, two assists and one block for the Roadrunners. Southwestern’s late execution at the free throw line and on the glass helped decide the game. The Spartans shot 33 of 73 from the floor, 5 of 17 from three-point range and 35 of 47 from the free throw line. They held a 51-45 rebounding advantage, with 15 offensive rebounds, had nine assists, committed 17 turnovers and were whistled for 22 fouls.

Maseyo Elliott finished with 11 points and eight rebounds for Southwestern. Jaxon Lerma scored 12 points and added three rebounds for Desert. Camron Bellamy scored 14 points and added three rebounds and two assists for the Spartans. Adam Chemsi contributed 11 points and four rebounds for Southwestern. Esten Wilson had 10 points, seven rebounds and one block for the Roadrunners. Jayden Gonzalez finished with eight points, six rebounds and six assists for Desert. The Roadrunners shot 33 of 83 overall, 10 of 38 from beyond the arc and 21 of 23 from the free throw line. They finished with 45 rebounds, including 15 on the offensive end, seven assists, four blocks and 16 turnovers while committing 30 fouls.

The game featured wild swings and a tense finish. Southwestern opened with the first four points before Desert answered. Keoni Henson and Owens scored the first two baskets for Southwestern, and Chemsi later hit a 3-pointer. Desert countered with Bahamontes, Joseph and Derek Ledezma. The Roadrunners used outside shooting from Joseph and Ledezma to stay in contact, while Southwestern leaned on Owens and Luzey inside and at the line. The score was tied at 86 after regulation and 93 after the first overtime. Southwestern had a chance to create separation in the second extra period, and that is when its veteran scorers took over.

After Desert tied the score at 95, Southwestern closed with an 11-2 run to put the game away. Camron Bellamy hit a jump shot and a free throw, Luzey made a layup, Owens converted a layup and a free throw, Chemsi made two free throws and Luzey added one more free throw. Desert managed only a Bahamontes jump shot in that closing stretch. The sequence turned a tied game into a nine-point Southwestern cushion and capped a long night that featured 60 combined fouls and 76 free throw attempts.

Southwestern’s offense finished with 106 points from 97 possessions and an offensive rating of 108.9. Desert scored 97 points from 95 possessions and posted an offensive rating of 102.2. The Spartans’ edge came in free throw volume and rebounding, while Desert’s 10 three-pointers helped keep the Roadrunners within range until the final minutes of the second overtime. Southwestern shot 35 of 47 at the line compared with Desert’s 21 of 23, and the Spartans’ 51 rebounds helped them survive 17 turnovers. Desert forced the issue with 30 fouls and grabbed 15 offensive rebounds, but the Roadrunners could not match Southwestern’s late scoring burst.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Southwestern 70, Desert 62, and its ELO system had given Southwestern a 64 percent probability to win before the game. The projection favored Southwestern by eight points.