Snow College Athletics

The Snow College men's basketball team built an early double-digit lead and withstood a second-half rally to earn an 88-87 victory over Arizona Western College Saturday inside The House in Yuma, Arizona.
 
The victory completed a two-game sweep for Snow College at the Region 1/Region 18 Challenge and extended its winning streak to six games. The Badgers improved to 6-1 overall after dropping their season opener.
 
Snow College entered Saturday's game less than 24 hours after earning a 102-89 victory over Eastern Arizona College. Snow College used a 15-2 first-half run to take control against EAC before stretching its lead to 22 during the second half. Five Badgers scored in double figures, led by Max Toombs and Amari Davis with 18 points apiece.
 
AWC scored the first two points Saturday, but James Rust tied the game before Davis gave Snow College the lead. Julian Cuillier connected from beyond the arc before a Davis steal led to another basket. Toombs added a 3-pointer, and Cuillier scored following a steal to give Snow College a 14-6 advantage.
 
Easton Hawkins scored before Rust connected from beyond the arc to complete a 19-6 Snow College run. The basket gave the Badgers their largest lead of the game at 11 with 15:06 remaining in the opening half.
 
AWC slowly chipped away at the deficit and pulled within 25-24 midway through the half. Hawkins responded with consecutive 3-pointers to restore a seven-point advantage. AWC made another run and cut the lead to 32-31 before Snow College closed the period with an 11-4 stretch.
 
Rust scored inside before Cuillier made a 3-pointer and converted a basket following a steal. Davis scored on the final Snow College possession of the half to send the Badgers into halftime with a 43-35 advantage.
 
AWC shot 42 percent from the field during the opening half but made just one of its 12 attempts from beyond the arc. Snow College forced 10 turnovers and converted seven 3-pointers during the period.
 
The teams traded baskets throughout the opening portion of the second half. AWC pulled within four with 10:40 remaining before Cuillier connected from beyond the arc. Kobe Jones later made a 3-pointer, and Davis scored to rebuild the Snow College lead to 71-61.
 
Cuillier scored again to give the Badgers a 10-point advantage with 6:29 remaining, but AWC continued to rally. The Matadors made three 3-pointers over the final four minutes and trimmed the deficit to 82-80 with 1:14 to play.
 
Snow College missed on its next possession, but Cuillier collected the offensive rebound and scored to extend the lead to four with 52 seconds remaining. Rust then recorded a steal and finished at the other end to give the Badgers an 86-80 advantage.
 
AWC answered with a 3-pointer before Toombs made two free throws with 18 seconds remaining. The Matadors split two free throws and forced a missed Snow College free throw, but their 3-pointer at the buzzer only reduced the final margin to one.
 
Snow College shot 49 percent from the field and made 11 3-pointers. The Badgers recorded 13 offensive rebounds and finished with a 20-14 advantage in second-chance points. They also forced 18 turnovers, collected 13 steals and scored 21 points off AWC miscues.
 
AWC shot 59 percent overall, including 78 percent during the second half. The Matadors made 21 of their 27 second-half field-goal attempts and six of eight shots from beyond the arc, but Snow College maintained the lead for the final 38 minutes.
 
Cuillier led Snow College with 24 points, eight assists, six rebounds and two steals. Hawkins finished with 18 points, while Davis added 14 points, seven rebounds and three steals. Toombs recorded 13 points, three assists and three steals. Rust also scored 13 points and finished with eight rebounds, two assists and two steals.
 
Snow College will have more than a week off before traveling to Las Vegas to face the College of Southern Nevada Tuesday, Nov. 24. Tipoff against CSN is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. inside the Coyote Event Center. For video streaming and live stat information, visit snowbadgers.com.