Men's Cagers Push #27 Canyons In Close Defeat

Trying to build off its first win of the season last week v. Pierce, the Pasadena City College men's basketball team did a similar strong job of forcing the issue defensively against state #27-ranked College of the Canyons. The Lancers made 15 steals and flustered COC into 24 turnovers, but a decisive differential at the free throw line allowed COC to walk away with a 76-69 victory at Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium Tuesday afternoon.

Pasadena (1-13) rallied from 12 points down in the second half, briefly taking the lead, 48-47, on back-to-back 3-point bombs by Brandon Torimaru and Devan Ford. After trading ties at 50-50 and 56-56, COC went on a 9-2 run capped on a 3-pointer by Dillon Barrientos with 2:34 left that placed PCC in a deficit it couldn't erase. 

The Lancers made just 12-for-24 from the line (50 percent) with the misses taking their toll as Canyons converted 23-for-32 (72 percent) from the stripe. The Cougars (8-4) were paced by Andrew Henderson with 22 points and 16 rebounds while Quincy Arms came off the bench to score 12 of his 15 points in the second half. Arms was 6-for-7 at the line.

PCC received a strong effort from Ford, who led all scorers with 26 points (including four 3-pointers), seven rebounds, three assists and three steals. Jordan Flowers added 15 points, five assists and was a defensive demon in making seven steals. Torimaru contributed 15 points, five boards and three steals. Joevontay Clayton pulled down 12 rebounds and scored four points. 

Pasadena will play one more time before the new year as it hosts Grossmont College on Tuesday, Dec. 28 in a 3 p.m. afternoon tip-off at the HP Gym.