The Pasadena City College men's basketball team led for almost the entire 40 minutes against visiting Compton on Tuesday. But it only matters if you are ahead at the finish and the Coyotes did just that carried by a put-back dunk by Ley McGovern with 21 seconds left to send the Lancers to the defeat, 56-53.
The Lancers (1-4) lost their fourth straight after stunning San Bernardino Valley in the season opener while Compton improved to 3-6.
PCC led by as much as 12 (20-8) midway through the first half on a Donovan Ford 3-pointer and stayed in front, 29-25, at the intermission. Each team struggled from the field and at the free throw line, but the Lancers especially did over the final 20 minutes in making just 7-for-30 (23.3 percent) from the fioor and only 8-for-16 at the stripe (50 percent).
Pasadena still had some distance, up 47-40 with eight minutes remaining but the defenses for both teams tightened. When Gavin Hollins-Law made a 3-pointer from the corner with 4:53 left, it would turn out to be PCC's last trip to the scoring column at 53-48.
Compton's Deuce Roberts forced a steal and then hit two free throws after McGovern's heroics. McGovern came off the Coyotes bench to score a game-high 19 points. He was 7-for-15 from the field while the rest of his team was just 13-for-42.
For PCC, Darius Freeman tallied 16 points, making 7-for-8 from the line, with six assists and five rebounds. PCC made just 13-for-26 overall on freebies. Hollins-Law added 11 points, Cooper Creamer seven and 10 rebounds, and Ford six and 10 boards.
"I felt like we took Compton out of its running style, but we just couldn't finish our inside attempts or make free throws in the last five minutes," said PCC interim head coach Spenser Nunes. "The effort was there, and that was encouraging. I really believe we will turn a corner and get back on track soon."
On Nov. 21, PCC lost at El Camino, 63-55, despite 17 points by Gor-el Zollicoffer. Ford chipped in six points and 13 rebounds while Freeman had nine points, four assists and four steals.
The Lancers next play at the Cerro Coso Classic on Saturday, Nov. 29 facing the Coyotes at 7 p.m., then play Palo Verde on Sunday, Nov. 30 in a 12 noon affair.