By Britain Kelly
The Copper Mountain College men’s basketball team was back in action Wednesday night as they traveled to the eastern border of the state, to take on Palo Verde College. The men’s Fightin’ Cacti won, 87-71.
Copper Mountain College was looking to bounce back after taking a heartbreaking one-point loss at home last Saturday against Victor Valley College.
Palo Verde’s basketball team is in its first-year. The men have found themselves in a bunch of tough close games and were trying to push the Fighting Cacti to the limit. CMC played solid in the first half, despite the absence of freshman point guard Tyler Hudson. The Cacti led by as much as 13 points in the first 20 minutes, behind the play of a sophomore trio, made up of Marc Hall, Hyking Brisbon and Zack Kroker. The Pirates of Palo Verde wouldn’t go away quietly, though, and the half ended on a 7-0 run, closing the Cacti’s lead to 41-35 at halftime.
The second half started a little turbulent for Copper Mountain College as they were called for seven charge fouls in the first nine possessions of the half. With the momentum swung back in Palo Verde’s favor, Copper Mountain had to “dig deep” to pull off the conference road win. Just when the Cacti needed it, sophomore Demarcus King drained a corner three-pointer to give CMC a boost. The Fighting Cacti went on 16-point run to end game and won, 87-71.
Marc Hall led in scoring tonight with 22 points and six rebounds. Zack Kroker had a monster game with 20 points and 21 rebounds and Hyking Brisbon also had a stellar game with 18 points and 16 rebounds.
Copper Mountain College improved to 7-10 on the year and 1-4 in conference.
Next up is a rivalry in the making, in the Fightin’ Cacti’s first-ever match-up against College of the Desert. Tip off for “The Battle of the Desert,” is 3 p.m. Saturday at home in the Bell Center.
