Late rally not enough as Golden Bears falls short to #25 Arizona Western at 2008 Desert Classic

#24 James Shambley defends #32 Austin Turner of AWC. Shambley had his first collegiate start against the Matadors.

Clinton Head Coach Donald Payton knew AWC guard Alonzo Brandon has the green light. And on Friday night, the Arizona Western College star was not hesitant to hit the gas at any intersection. "If Brandon’s open, you can count it," Payton said. “We did not do a good job of locating him (Brandon) and Austin Turner in transition, maybe now our guys can finally understand the importance of what our coaching staff stresses,” added Payton
The No. 25 Matadors built a big enough lead early in the second half to withstand Clinton Junior College's response for a 69-60 win to conclude the Desert Classic '08 tournament.
Brandon led AWC's (3-0) balanced attack as one of four players to score in double figures. All 15 of his points came from long distance and early on in each half to keep pace with the Golden Bears (1-3), based out of Rock Hill, S.C. But it was the inside play of Rafael Crescencio and Andre Almeida that bailed out the Matadors as well dried up from outside.
"They were sharp shooters outside and big inside," CJC coach Donald Payton said. "Being on the road and in unfamiliar territory you have got to keep it close or build a lead down the stretch to have a chance to win."
The instruction was easier said than done. A 3-pointer by Austin Turner gave AWC a 59-42 lead near the 8-minute mark, but once the Matadors' shooting touch disappeared, Clinton went no a 14-0 tear and eventually made it a three-point game.
"They did a great job on the offensive boards," Arizona Western Coach Kelly Green said of Clinton, who got enough extra shots to put up 77 total attempts. "Their best offense was throwing it off the glass and going and getting it."
AWC never lost the lead however as both teams struggled from the line near the end, shooting a combined 2-for-10 in the last two minutes of play. Crescencio scored six of his 12 points off the bench near the end and hit his last four foul shots.
"We kept playing as if we were trying to catch up when we were already ahead instead of pounding it in," Brandon said. "Once Bambu (Crescencio) started going to the basket he started scoring more, and we came up with the win."
Turner also finished with 12 points for AWC, and Almeida has 10 points and 10 boards. Clinton's Heath White scored a game-high 16 points.
The Golden Bears open up at home November 18 to take on Roane State Community College in Rock Hill, SC.

BOX SCORE
Arizona Western men 69, Clinton J.C. 60
AWC: Krause 2-5 0-0 6, Nelson 1-3 3-4 5, Web 2-5 0-0 5, Almeida 5-7 0-5 10, Sanders 0-3 2-4 2, Downing 1-4 0-0 3, Turner 5-7 0-0 12, Brandon 5-11 0-0 15 Crescencio 4-8 4-6 12.
Clinton: Garfield 1-8 2-2 4, Wilkerson 2-11 2-2 7, Morgan 2-5 0-0 5, Alston 3-9 0-1 8, Sims 3-11 0-2 8, Swinger 0-1 0-0 0, Shambley 0-4 0-2 0, White 7-19 2-2 16, Young 4-8 2-4 10, Bland 1-1 0-0 2.

Halftime—AWC 34-32 3-Point Goals—Clinton 6-20 (Alston 2, Sims 2); AWC 10-19 (Brandon 5, Krause 2). Rebounds--Clinton 40 (Wilkerson, Young 7); AWC 44 (Almeida 10, Crescencio 8). Assists--Clinton 6 (Smith 4); AWC 14 (Sanders 7). Turnovers--Clinton 11; AWC 19. Steals--Clinton 5; AWC 3; Total Fouls—Clinton 20, AWC 18. Fouled out-- Clinton -Garfield; AWC - Turne