Benson’s 18 Points Propel Aztec Men to Unbeaten 20-0 Season Start

The Pima Community College men’s basketball team continues to dominate, achieving their 20th consecutive victory on Saturday with a commanding 95-55 win against Chandler-Gilbert Community College at the West Campus Aztec Gymnasium.

Ranked No. 5 in the nation, the Aztecs started strong, overcoming an early struggle that saw them miss seven of their first eight shots. The teams exchanged leads and ties early on, matching each other at 11 points before Pima initiated an 8-0 run, forcing Chandler-Gilbert to call a timeout.

After taking a 19-14 lead, the Aztecs extended their margin with a 13-4 run, going up 32-18. They capped off the first half by outscoring the Coyotes 15-5, leading 47-23 at halftime.

In the second half, Pima maintained their momentum, swelling their lead to as much as 40 points by the game’s conclusion, ultimately outscoring Chandler-Gilbert 48-32.

Sophomore Kota Benson led all scorers with a season-high 18 points, shooting 6 for 11 from the floor and contributing four assists. Classmate Cohenj Gonzales added 17 points, with 13 of those coming in the first half, while also recording three rebounds, three assists, and three steals.

Freshman Mason Hunt provided a significant boost off the bench, scoring 15 points, including two three-pointers in the first half, and finishing the night with an impressive 5 for 9 shooting, hitting all three of his attempts from beyond the arc.

Sophomore Wes Ball narrowly missed a double-double, scoring 10 points and grabbing eight rebounds, going a perfect 3 for 3 from the field.

The Aztecs are set to return to action on Wednesday, facing South Mountain Community College with tipoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m.