YUMA, Ariz. – The Arizona Western College Matadors Men's Basketball team (14-4, 5-2) won its sixth consecutive game on Wednesday night, beating No. 23 ranked Eastern Arizona (15-3, 5-2) 62-58 at the House Gymnasium.

Edwin Suarez led the Matadors with a game-high 23 points while grabbing a game-best nine rebounds to lead the Matadors past the Gila Monsters.

Arizona Western raced out to an 11-point lead at 13-2, using a 13-0 run after the Gila Monsters opened the scoring with their lone lead of the game. Easter Arizona cut the Matadors' lead to 17-12 but the Matadors responded with a 5-0 run, capped off by a Darnell Childs floater to put the Matadors up 22-12. Suarez hit three three-pointers in the first half and put the Matadors in front 27-19 with a three late in the half and the Matadors held a 31-25 lead at the break.

The Matadors scored the first four points of the second half and eventually took a 12-point lead after a pair of Matt Anglo free throws. Arizona Western built its largest lead of the game at 43-30 on a Lucca Reinehr three-point play. Eastern would get within three points at 47-44 before Childs pushed the lead back out with a corner three. The Matadors hung on to win to earn their sixth straight win and second win over a ranked opponent this season.

Anglo was the Matadors' second-leading scorer, scoring 13 points while both Childs and Reinehr ended the game with seven points.

The Matadors are back on action on the road on Saturday, January 18, heading to San Bernardino, Calif., to take on Community Christian in an ACCAC matchup at 5:00 pm Arizona time.