Rio Hondo's Losing Streak Ends at Men's Basketball's Expense

Two teams desperately needing a win got together Friday night at Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium. The 1-19 Pasadena City College men's basketball team liked its chances in facing the 1-20 Rio Hondo College Roadrunners. Despite playing with just five players, Rio Hondo did just enough to hand PCC its eighth straight loss, 81-78, while ending its own 3-month long, 17-game losing streak.

It was the second time in five days that the Lancers played against a team with one win and in both cases it was the opponent that snapped long losing streaks. On Monday, El Camino, also without a win since November, broke its 13-game losing streak in defeating visiting PCC, 84-63. To sum it up, PCC is now 1-20 while South Coast Conference foes Rio Hondo and El Camino are each 2-20. 

In the loss to Rio Hondo, the Lancers shot an outstanding 50 percent from the 3-point arc, making 13 of 26 attempts, but it was also the 3 that did them in. Roadrunners 6-foot-6 wing Sebastian Lara poured in nine treys in 16 attempts as part of his game-high 29 points. PCC was paced by Devan Ford, who scored 20 of his 22 points in the first half, Brandon Torimaru, who hit three 3s, to finish with 15 points and eight rebounds. Reserve Charles Jones drained four triple bombs for his 12 points.

Jordan Flowers added 11 points, eight boards, seven assists and three steals while Nathaniel Carter chipped in nine points and eight rebounds. 

Rio Hondo never relinquished the lead despite two big pushes by the Lancers. Late in the first half, Ford hit back-to-back treys, then reserve guard Le'Raun Peron drilled a 3-pointer at the first-half buzzer that cut the Roadrunners advantage from 10 points to 40-38. In the second half, RHC built its biggest lead at 17 points by the 32nd minute mark. Jones second consecutive 3 capped a wild PCC 21-7 run that left RHC ahead, 71-68, with six minutes remaining.

With 20 seconds left, Joseph Rousseau sank two free throws that put PCC within two, 80-78. Then with seven seconds to go, Rousseau's layup attempt seemed to roll at the side of the rim for an eternity, but his shot that would have tied the game instead would not go.

"Sometimes you need a little luck and that was a shot you hope would spin into the hoop," said PCC head coach Hosie Ward. "I was very proud of the way we fought back in both halves. Rio Hondo had five guys but it had a taller lineup than ours and they all hit outside shots for them. Still, that was our best game since we played Canyons in December."

Pasadena is 0-5 in SCC North Division play and has six games left on the 2021-22 schedule. On Monday, Feb. 14, the Lancers host Compton College in a conference crossover at 5 p.m.