The South Coast Conference North Division is already presenting problems for the Pasadena City College men's basketball team. The Lancers are off to an 0-2 start after Friday's 82-71 home loss v. Los Angeles Trade-Tech.
The Lancers (9-11 overall) never led as the Beavers (10-10, 2-0) jumped ahead, 15-2, then 38-25 by halftime. PCC made a brief push, cutting it to 59-55 on a Darrius Freeman triple with 8:52 left. Trade-Tech responded a 14-1 run as the Lancers' shooting went cold (0-for-6 from the floor, 1-for-4 at the free throw line) putting the game out of reach.
LATT was led by Franklyn Chambers, who broke free on a number of fast-break layups (10-for-13 from the field) to finish with a game-high 26 points. Will Smith III slapped high fives with his teammates after scoring 18 and grabbing 12 rebounds.
For Pasadena, team leader Freeman was one of five Lancers to reach double figures in scoring on 16 points (7-for-7 at the stripe) while dishing out nine assists along with five rebounds. Gavin Hollins-Law drained 16 off the bench and made five steals. The starting trio of Gor-el Zollicoffer, Cooper Creamer (six boards), and Julian Thompkins all netted 10 points.
In the SCC North opener at Los Angeles City on Jan. 21, PCC saw an early, commanding 20-2 lead vanish by early in the second half and went on to lose to the Cubs, 72-67.
Thompkins' layup helped PCC build a lead back to 61-52 but LACC clawed back and got in front, 66-65, on a trey by Brayden Fu with 4:24 to go. Pasadena again went cold, scoring just two points over the game's final six minutes as LA City snapped a 9-game losing streak to win just its third game of the season.
Fu (five 3-point baskets) and Kye Usher-Brown each scored 19 points to pace LA City while Zollicoffer hit for 14 (and seven rebounds), including four from long distance, to lead PCC. Thompkins chipped in 13 points and four steals and Freeman contributed 12 points, seven boards, five helpers and four steals. Cooper just missed a double-double on nine points and 10 rebounds.
Zakhary Van Patten and Hollins-Law had seven points in reserve.
Things won't get any easier for Pasadena when it hosts state #9-ranked Mt. San Antonio on Wednesday, Jan. 28. Tip-off if 5 p.m. at Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium.
