Depth Lends Helping Hands For Men's Cagers

Every game different players are stepping up for the Pasadena City College men's basketball team. The results are a Lancers squad now three games over the .500 mark at 7-4.

PCC went 2-1 at the College of the Sequoias Wyndham Classic played Dec. 14-16. The Lancers haven't had seven wins by this point of a season going back to 2013 (8-4 by Dec. 14).

In Sunday's tourney finale, freshman guard Patric Panoosi sank a team season-high six 3-pointers for his 18 points (6-for-8 beyond the circle) and added six rebounds in PCC's 68-39 rout over Shasta. The Lancers jumped out to a commanding 24-3 lead and kept the large advantage by halftime at 35-13.

Sophomore transfer forwad Chris Blount took care of the post as made 8-of-10 shots for his 16 points and added nine rebounds. Blount is the son of former NBA player Corie Blount, who starred at Santa Ana College before embarking on his pro career. Off the bench, letterman forward Jordan Simpson picked up a double-double on 10 points and 12 rebounds (plus three blocks and three assists) and transfer guard Giovonni Jackson contributed 10 points. Jack Dakan, a Blair High grad who just joined the squad this past week, drained a 3-pointer for his first collegiate points. 

At the round robin North tournament, PCC lost the middle contest v. Fresno City College, 76-63. The Lancers let a 15-point lead, 33-18, slip away by the end of the first half (36-36). A trey by frosh point guard Khristion Courseault made it 53-49 Lancers, but the Rams responded on a 16-2 spurt to grab control. Jackson, playing in reserve, scored PCC's high of 14 points. Letterman guad Josiah Woods tallied 12 points, Courseault 11, and Panoosi also scored 11. 

In the opener, PCC rallied from 13 points down in the second half (47-34) and defeated the host Giants, 63-60. Courseault drilled a 3 for PCC's first only lead change of the game at 57-54 with 5:32 left. Courseault led the Lancers with 16 points, including four long-range baskets, Woods added 15 points and Simpson was exceptionally strong off the bench with 13 points, 11 rebounds, 4 assists while blocking eight shots and adding three steals on defense. Blount also reached double digits with 11 points.

Seven different Lancers have led the team in scoring in their 11 games. 

On Dec. 28-29, PCC closes out the 2018 part of its schedule at the Imperial Valley Holiday Crossover Tournament. The four-team, mini tourney features the Lancers playing College of the Desert (Friday, Dec. 28 at 3 p.m.), then host IVC on Saturday, Dec. 29 at 5 p.m.