JAMESTOWN - The Jamestown Community College opened up the 2021-22 season Saturday afternoon at the Physical Education Complex, falling to Community College of Beaver County 69-58.

The Jayhawks (0-1) were led offensively by sophomore guard Jafar Yahuza (Staten Island, NY/Port Richmond) with a game-high 18 points while freshman guard Clinique Jackson (Rochester, NY/East HS) chipped in with 13 points off the bench. Freshman forward Gonzalo Luque (Madrid, Spain/Instituto Ortega y Gasset) led the way on the board, grabbing 10 rebounds (2 offense, 8 defense).

Both teams got off to slow starts with JCC getting on the board with a jumper from freshman guard Kareem O'Brian (West Babylon, NY/North Babylon HS) to halt a 9-0 from the Titans with 11:36 remaining in the first half.

Facing a 10-point deficit at the halfway point in the first half, the Jayhawks cut it to single digits with baskets from Yahuza and sophomore guard Josiah Ransom (Orange Park, FL/Helena HS) to make it 12-6 with eight minutes left in the half. 

The Titans gained a lead as many as 13 points down the stretch of the first half but the Jayhawks got it to a 29-22 game with a made three-pointer from Brian Fajardo (Bronx, NY/Aeci Charter HS). CCBC answered with a three-pointer of their own to take a 32-22 lead into the break.

Coming out of the break, the Jayhawks quickly cut the deficit to seven with a made basket from Ransom and Luque making the backend of his free throw attempts.

The biggest spark for the Jayhawk offense came when they were down 38-27 early in the half, going on an 11-1. Jackson got things going with a three-pointer off the feed from Ransom, followed by a layup from Jackson, a three-pointer from freshman forward Traden Gray (Frewsburg, NY/Frewsburg HS), and capping it off with Yahuza converting an and-one opportunity.

The teams went tic-for-tac for a stretch but the Titans found their offense, getting a 59-49 lead with 3:28 remaining in regulation. Yahuza continued to have the hot hand, draining another three-pointer followed by a score from Luque to close the gap to five with under a minute to go but the rally would fall short.

The Jayhawks held the slight edge shooting the ball, going 23-for-60 (38.3 percent) from the floor while the Titans went 22-for-60 (36.7 percent). The Titans held the advantage on the boards, grabbing 48 rebounds to the Jayhawks' 35 rebounds.

The Jayhawks will be back in action next Friday as they travel to Garrett College for day one of the Garrett College Classic. Tip is set for 7 p.m.