Last Second Bucket Sends Men's Basketball to Defeat at GCC

In a game that serves a precursor of the intensity to come in the playoffs next week, the Scottsdale men's basketball team fell 78-76 to Glendale this afternoon at GCC.

The game was close through the first half, but the Gauchos used a 12-0 run to take a 46-34 lead with 13 minutes left. SCC answered with a 15-5 run of their own to cut the deficit to two at 51-49. Down 75-70 with 30 seconds left, Rafe Canale converted on a driving layup to cut the margin to three. Thomas Hastings would steal the ball of the inbound play and after being fouled, drained two free throws. After a Gauchos free throw, Canale would once again score, this time tying the game at 76. GCC drove the floor and a putback layup with 1.5 seconds would give them the win.

The loss today, coupled with South Mountain's loss at Pima, locks the Artichokes into the No. 4 seed of the NJCAA Division II Region I Tournament. They will travel to either Pima or Chandler-Gilbert for that semifinal game that will be played on Thursday, March 7. The Region Finals will be contested on Saturday, March 9.