GAME NOTES:
 

• The Snow College Badgers will begin a four-game Arizona road trip and take on Central Arizona College Wednesday in Coolidge.  Tip off is scheduled to take place at 6:00 p.m.  The Badgers will also take on Arizona Western, Eastern Arizona College, and Yavapai College during the trip.

 

• The Badgers earned a pair of convincing victories at the Snow College Classic to begin the 2024-25 season.  Snow College defeated Harcum 89-65 before earning a 112-67 victory over Western Nebraska Community College.

 

• Isaac Finlinson recorded 30 points and 10 rebounds – both career highs – in the Badgers victory over Harcum, which was receiving votes in the NJCAA Men's Basketball Preseason Poll.  He scored 26 points against WNCC.  As a result of his strong weekend, Finlinson was named the Scenic West Athletic Conference Player of the Week.

 

• Snow College won their opening game of the season for the third consecutive year.  Since the 2011-12 season, the Badgers are 12-2 in season openers.

 

• As a team, the Badgers shot 54 percent from the field and 36 percent from beyond the 3-point arc.  Snow College shot 50 percent from the field and 36 percent from 3 during the 2023-24 season.  The Badgers have shot 50 percent or better from the field as a team in four of the past five seasons.

 

• Snow College scored 112 points in its victory over WNCC.  This is the first time surpassing the century mark since earning a 100-57 victory over Utah State University Eastern Jan. 27, 2024.  The Badgers scored 100 points eight times during the 2023-24 campaign.

 

• The Badgers are 2-0 historically against CAC but have not faced off against the Vaqueros since Jan. 23, 2021.  Snow College earned a 96-72 victory in that meeting.  The Badgers earned an 85-50 victory Nov. 11, 2016.

 

• The Vaqueros started their season off with a 116-62 victory against the Arizona Sol last Saturday.

 
LAST TIME OUT: The Snow College men's basketball team began their season with a pair of victories against Harcum College and Western Nebraska Community College.  The Badgers beat the Bears 89-65 followed by a 112-67 victory against the Cougars. 
 
Snow College started their regular season at home for the third consecutive year. Since the 2011-12 season, the Badgers are a combined 11-2 in season openers.  Friday's matchup with Harcum was the first meeting between the two teams in program history.
 
The Badgers held a lead in the early minutes against the Bears.  Each of the Badgers' first 11 points came from inside the paint or at the free-throw line.  Back-to-back 3-pointers from Harcum gave them a 6-point lead midway through the opening half.
 
The game teeter-tottered until Chance Trujillo and Isaac Finlinson each buried a triple to give the Badgers the lead with five minutes to play in the half.  The Badgers would not relinquish the lead again throughout the game.  Snow College led by as many as 6 in the opening 20 minutes before taking a 41-38 lead into the halftime break.
 
The Bears were able to trim the lead to just 1 a few minutes into the second half. Following Harcum's spark, Snow College began to separate. The Badgers went on a 17-1 run fueled by 9 points from Finlinson to give the Badgers a 63-46 advantage.
 
Snow College used another big run later in the half, this time a 12-0 burst to increase the lead to 25 points.  The Badgers would lead by as many as 27 before cruising to an 89-65 victory.
 
Finlinson had a career-high 30 points on 8-15 shooting from the field.  He was 12-15 from the free-throw line, more than doubling his previous career high in attempts in a game.  Finlinson added 10 rebounds in the win.
 
Two other Badgers scored in double figures including Isaac Garrett who recorded 19 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists on 7-9 shooting.  Mark Brown Jr. poured in 11 points and grabbed 4 steals to aid in the victory.
 
Snow College had a quick turnaround and took on WNCC the following afternoon.  The Badgers would lead wire-to-wire en route to a 112-67 victory over the Cougars.  They jumped out to an early 10-point lead just six minutes into action.
 
A quick 7-point burst saw the Badgers lead 29-12 midway through the first half.  Snow College continued to maintain the momentum and eventually led by as many as 21 before a trio of free throws from Finlinson gave the Badgers a 53-33 lead at halftime.
 
Snow College needed just 4 and a half minutes of the second half to extend their lead to 30.  The Badgers would eventually lead by as many as 48 points before claiming a convincing 112-67 victory over the Cougars.
 
Finlinson once again led all scorers as he finished with 26 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists.  His performance over the weekend was good enough to earn the Scenic West Athletic Conference Player of the Week award.
 
McCaden Adams had 24 points and 9 rebounds in his first start as a Badger.  Garrett once again stuffed the stat sheet finishing with 18 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 blocks.  Brown Jr. added 15 points, 5 rebounds and 6 assists while Coleman Ford chipped in 13 points and 7 assists in the win.
 
UP NEXT: The Badgers will head to Thatcher to participate in the Region 1/Region 18 showdown, where they face Arizona Western College and Eastern Arizona College Friday and Saturday.  Friday's matchup with the Matadors is scheduled to tip at 2:30 p.m. with Saturday's matchup to start at 6:30 p.m.  For video streaming and live stat information, visit snowbadgers.com.