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Buzzer Beater Sends Pioneers Home From Arizona With Loss

Buzzer Beater Sends Pioneers Home From Arizona With Loss
Posted: Jan 02, 2026

Pioneers 74... South Mountain 76

The MCC Pioneers led their final game in Arizona for nearly 39 minutes. Unfortunately, college basketball games are 40 minutes long. 

After leading by double digits at halftime (45-33), the MCC Pioneer shooting from both the field and the free throw line went cold and South Mountain CC scored a layup and drew a Pioneer foul at the buzzer to rally the Cougars past Miles CC 76-74 on New Years Eve in Phoenix, Arizona. 

The Pioneers were hot in the 1st half shooting 56% from the field and 9-15 (60%) from the 3-point line to build a double digit lead in the first half. Things cooled down in the 2nd half as MCC hit just 35% from the field and 1-9 from 3-point range. Miles could have put the game on ice from the free throw line but missed 7 free throws in the 2nd half. 

Azenio Cossa (6'3 Sophomore - Maputo, Mozambique) led the Pioneers in scoring with 19 points (8-17 FG, 2-4 3's, 1-2 FT) and also led MCC in rebounds (10) and assists (6). Uwami Congo (6'8 Sophomore - Maputo, Mozambique) came off the bench to score 18 points ( 3-6 FG, 1-3 3's, 11-12 FT) and grab 6 rebounds. Jace Hill (6'1 Sophomore - Columbia Falls, MT) had 13 points (4-5 FG, 4-5 3's, 1-2 FT) and Donnie Haney (6'2 Sophomore - Baton Rouge, LA) had 11 points (3-11 FG, 2-10 3's, 3-6 FT).

Inside the Box Score

  • The Pioneers shot 23-50 (46%) from the field and 10-24 (42%) from 3-point range. MCC was 18-29 (62%) from the free throw line. 
  • The Cougars shot 27-75 (36%) from the field and 11-31 (36%) from 3-point range. South Mountain was 11-13 from the free throw line. 
  • South Mountain outrebounded the Pioneers 50-33. SMCC had 22 offensive rebounds and MCC had 6. 
  • The Pioneers committed 10 turnovers and the Cougars had 11. 
  • The Pioneers had a 15 point lead midway thru the first half. 
  • There were 4 ties and 8 lead changes. 

The Pioneers end non conference play with a 7-11 record and will kick off the MonDak Conference part of the schedule on Thursday, January 8 and host Dawson CC at 7:30 PM MST.