Vazquez' Historic Triple-Double Highlights Men's Basketball Season-Opening Win

In this the 100th anniversary of Pasadena City College, it was fitting that a little history was made by the Lancers men's basketball team in a 2024-25 season-opening blowout over El Camino, 104-65, on Friday night.

PCC sophomore point guard Jalen Vazquez became the first Lancer in the 25-year history of Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium to record a triple-double as he made 8-for-10 from the field as part of his 18 points, dished out 12 assists, and grabbed 11 rebounds. He also made three of the team's 16 steals. 

The Lancers reached the century mark in points for the first time in two years and the 15th time since 1991 when statistical records began being kept at the college. 

Third-year head coach Ryan Frazer has turned a previously struggling program into one of the SoCal's top teams with a 41-20 record (.672 win percentage) and back-to-back playoff appearances in his first two PCC seasons.

Pasadena, #9 in the SoCal Pre-Season Rankings, rained 3-pointers against ECC, making 16 overall, led by frosh reserve guard Adrian Hernandez who made all six of his treys in the second half for 18 points. Hernandez swished all six long-range baskets in a remarkable three-minute span during the second half.

PCC sizzled from the field, making 57.4 percent overall. Letterman wing Dylan Swillis scored 16 points (7-for-11 on shots) while fellow sophomore starting wing Kaiden Fine (plus seven rebounds and four assists) and first-year reserve wing Quinlan Daly added 10 points each.

"It was a special moment to see Jalen accomplish that rare triple-double," Frazer said. "To watch him play and focus in on others without even thinking about what he was close to accomplishing really exemplifies the type of leader he has become for our program. In my two short seasons at PCC, these players have been able to do some pretty remarkable things. I'm just fortunate that I got to be here for this historic achievement."

Backup freshman guard Brandin Jackson tallied eight points, redshirt freshman starting wing Darrius Freeman collected seven points and four assists, first-year wing Donovan Ford notched six points with five rebounds and four assists, frosh wing Julian Thompkins chipped in five points, starting freshman forward Cooper Creamer had four points, and letterman forward TiJuan Lumpkin added two points as all 11 players dressed for the opener reached the scoresheet.

On the team's overall performance in the opener, Frazer said: "I feel like tonight showed our depth. When things are clicking I feel like we can be a very tough team to beat. With that being said, we showed some of our youth with how poorly we guarded (22 fouls). El Camino threw some things at us that took us a while to figure out. We had some areas exposed that we will have to grow in."

The Lancers return four players from their 2023-24 squad that finished 19-11 overall and 1-1 in the SoCal Regional Playoffs.

Vazquez, who played in all 30 games last season as the team's point guard, averaged 7.9 points, 5 assists, 4 rebounds and 1.9 steals (led team with 58). He led the South Coast Conference in assists with 149. 

The 6-foot-5 Swillis started 29 games last season as a freshman, averaging 11.7 points, a team-high 6.5 rebounds and 1.8 steals per contest. 

Fine averaged 5.1 points, 2 rebounds and 1.1 assists in 27 games and the 6-5 Lumpkin, who overcame injuries to appear in eight games, averaged 3.5 points and 2.1 rebounds off the bench.

Hernandez, a transfer sophomore from Bethesda University (Anaheim) joins the Lancers as do eight freshmen overall with Freeman (Pete Knight High) and Creamer, who averaged 13.3 points and 8.5 boards at Chapparal High

The 6-6 Ford was on three all-tournament teams and an All-Southwestern League First Team choice at Vista Murrieta High. Ford averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds as a senior and was a MVP at the prestigious Tarkanian Classic, so naturally he comes to the school that legendary coach Jerry Tarkanian coached to a state title in 1967. Another Vista Murrieta product is Jackson. 

Thompkins was a high scorer who averaged 18 points and six assists as an All-Prep League First Team player at Burbank's Providence High, the 6-6 Daly played his prep ball at Crescenta Valley High and 6-3 freshman guard LaQwon Cole was an All Del-Rey League Second Team selection from Bishop Montgomery High who was a redshirt at Utah State University Eastern last year. Cole is expected to make his collegiate debut soon.

PCC next hosts the Skip Robinson Classic on Thursday, Nov. 14 and Saturday, Nov. 16. PCC plays Santiago Canyon to open the tourney in a 7 p.m. tip-off on Thursday.

Complete Lancers 2024-25 Schedule 

Hernandez hits one of his 3s (photos by Richard Quinton)

Vazquez with a jumper

Swillis with the slam