YUMA, Ariz. – The Arizona Western Matadors Men's Basketball team saw its 2023-24 season come to an end with a 75-71 loss to Cochise in the Region I Semifinals on Saturday night at Apache Stronghold Gymnasium in Douglas.  

Jannoy Thomas led all scorers on Saturday night, scoring 22 points on 8-of-12 shooting while grabbing six rebounds and leading the team in steals with four.

The Matadors opened an early six-point lead but Cochise closed the game before the teams traded leads throughout the first 20 minutes of the game. The Apaches outscored the Matadors 32-30 in the first half to take the two-point lead at the break.

Arizona Western took a four-point lead with 10 minutes remaining in the second half before Cochise went on a 13-2 run to open up an 11-point advantage. The Matadors fought back to within three points with under a minute to play but would not get any closer.

AJ Marmolejos was the Matadors' second-leading scorer with 14 points and both Cam Atkinson and Edwin Suarez finished the game with 12 points each.