Men's Basketball Finishes In a Flourish, Tie For 2nd In SCC North

For the first time in six years, the Pasadena City College men's basketball team placed as high as second in the South Coast Conference North Division. The Lancers closed out the 2019-2020 season by winning two close games in the final week, including Friday's 79-77 triumph at Mt. San Antonio College.

The Lancers, who on Wednesday downed fellow co-second place finisher Los Angeles Trade Tech, 96-93, reached the .500 mark at 14-14. 

Against Mt. SAC, PCC and the Mounties battled through 14 lead changes and nine ties before Rasheet Wilson made a layup with a minute left to give PCC a 76-74 lead. A last-second short-range try by Mt. SAC's Maliq Neurell was missed as Wilson grabbed the defensive rebound to seal the close win. Overall, Gabriel Ajemian led four Lancers in double figures scoring with 18 points. Sophomore center Deandro Worrell tallied 17 points and 11 rebounds while guard Dominick Erby contributed 16 points, six boards, and four assists. Wilson had 14 points and three steals.

Also for PCC, Patric Panoosi had nine points and nine rebounds while London Benford added four points and four steals. Erby, Benford, Panoosi, Worrell, and backup guard Mike Harris all played their final games as Lancers. 

Kalique Mitchell scored a game-high 20 points for Mt. SAC (6-21, 1-7). PCC shot an outstanding 78.3 percent from the free throw line on 18 of 23 attempts.

In the Lancers final home win v. Trade Tech, PCC trailed by as much as 10 points for much of the second half. It was the Lancers free throw shooting that clawed the team back as they took advantage of reaching double bonus fouls against the Beavers in the last 6 minutes. Trailing 83-77, Wilson made three straight free throws after being fouled behind the 3-point line. Ajemian made four free throws and Harris two during the next few possessions. Finally with 30 seconds remaining, Benford hit a jumper to give PCC the lead at 92-91 and the Lancers closed it out with good defense.

Overall, Pasadena converted 36 of 52 free throws (23 of 35 in the second half). Ajemian led the squad with 21 points (11-of-18 from the line) to go with six rebounds and four steals. Wilson scored 18 points (7-for-7 at the charity stripe) and Erby delivered 17 points (made 9-of-13 FT's) and six rebounds. Panoosi scored 13 points while Harris added 11 points. Worrell grabbed 20 rebounds and all six of his points came at the line. Trade Tech was led by Mark Chin with 29 points.