Men's Cagers Return To Action After Month Layoff

The good news for the Pasadena City College men's basketball team was the Lancers finally returned to the floor Wednesday night after a month-long layoff due to the surge in COVID-19 cases throughout the state. The bad news was the squad's improvements made just before several non-conference games were postponed starting on Dec. 21 have been sidetracked.

PCC (1-14 overall) looked more like the team that started the 2021-22 season on a 12-game losing streak in a lopsided loss at Mt. San Antonio College, 92-62. It was the South Coast Conference North Division opener for both teams. The state's #27-ranked Mounties weren't going to take it easy on the Lancers after PCC had won three games v. Mt. SAC back in the 2019-2020 season and snapped a 4-game losing streak v. their long-time conference rival overall.

Mt. SAC (12-4) jumped out to a 17-4 lead before Pasadena cut it to 19-18 midway through the first half. The Mounties mounted a 15-0 run during a stretch where the Lancers made four turnovers. By halftime, Mt. SAC had a commanding 41-23 advantage. Things got worse in the second half. The Mounties dominated the boards, 50-31, and had a mostly easy time in the paint, outscoring PCC, 52-14, on inside baskets. 

"After a 29-day absence from a return to play and 18 days between practices, a team will suffer from a lack of conditioning, chemistry, and offensive and defensive rhythm, which is what happened to us tonight," said PCC interim head coach Hosie Ward. 

PCC did get some strong individual performances from Charles Jones, who hit five 3-pointers as part of his team-high and personal season-best 19 points, and Devan Ford, who scored 18 points, grabbed five rebounds, blocked four shots and made two steals. Brandon Torimaru added 10 points, Joseph Rousseau had seven points and five rebounds while Le'Raun Peron tallied six points and three boards coming off the bench. 

Jamal Edmonson led Mt. SAC with 20 points.

"We looked nothing like the team that beat Glendale and took Canyons to the wire. But we played really hard and just were rusty," Ward said. 

PCC won't play again until next Wednesday, Jan. 26 in a division contest at Rio Hondo College. Tip-off is 5 p.m.