Men's Basketball Says Good Knight LA Southwest In Victory

The Pasadena City College men's basketball team has auditioned for a sixth man off the bench who can deliver secondary scoring. The Lancers may have found their man in freshman long-range shooter Barry Knight, who poured in a season-high 20 points as PCC downed short-handed, state #23-ranked Los Angeles Southwest, 82-63, on Friday night.

The unranked Lancers improved to 9-7 and 3-1 since the start of the new year, defeating LASW (11-5), playing without its state-leading scorer Chidi Obichere due to injury. PCC ended the Cougars' 5-game win streak in the South Coast Conference crossover win at Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium. 

PCC controlled things by the 10-minute mark when backup guard Jalyn White hit a jumper for a 20-10 lead. Knight drilled a 3, then turned a steal into a layup to extend things. He buried a corner 3 in the final seconds of the half for a commanding 39-19 advantage. 

In the second half, the Lancers led by as much as 24 and carried a 20-point or more lead for most of the 20 minutes. 

Knight, a prolific prep scorer while at Valley View High, was 5-for-11 from beyond the arc and did all of his damage in just 13 minutes of action.

Meanwhile, the PCC starting five did its job beginning with 16 points on 7-for-10 shooting by Deen Abdur-Rahmann (plus six rebounds). Myles Watkins added 14 points, nine rebounds and four assists while Dylan Swillis chipped in 11 points and six boards.

Point guard Jalen Vazquez was at the top of his game as well with 10 points, seven assists, six rebounds and two blocks. Shant Chenorhavorian also played well with eight points and seven rebounds. 

LASW's Omarion Shackelford led all scorers with 25 points.

PCC returns to the floor on Wednesday, Jan. 17 in a 5 p.m. SCC crossover at LA Harbor. After a rough 2-11 start to the season, the Seahawks (5-11), last year's SCC South Division champions, have won three straight v. North Division teams