Dealing Dylan: Swillis Leads PCC In Skip Robinson Classic Triumph

As the premier rebounder and inside player on the Pasadena City College men's basketball team, returning sophomore wing Dylan Swillis is already a key presence to the Lancers attack. But the 6-foot-5 performer added a new wrinkle as long-range shooter in helping PCC defeat Glendale, 76-59, to finish the Lancers Skip Robinson Classic round-robin tourney on Saturday afternoon.

Swillis, who made just 10 shots beyond the arc last season, swished three 3-pointers as part of his team-high 20 points to go with 12 rebounds, three steals and two blocks. Swillis hit back-to-back treys early in the second half that allowed PCC to pull away from the Vaqueros.

Jalen Vazquez continued his productive, all-around play with 12 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists while Kaiden Fine (nine rebounds) and Cooper Creamer (five boards) each scored 10 points. Darrius Freeman added eight points.

PCC (2-1 record) was 10-for-19 from 3-point land overall. 

In the opener of the tourney at Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium on Thursday, PCC saw a 7-point lead with less than five minutes to go evaporate as Santiago Canyon edged the Lancers, 79-77. A basket-and-one by LaQwon Cole gave PCC its final lead at 77-75 with 2:04 remaining.

Santiago Canyon came up with the big play as Tony Colley (game-high 24 points) scored a put-back basket with 16 seconds left. A final 3-point attempt by Vazquez was off the mark at the buzzer.

Swillis scored 20 points and Creamer notched 15 points and six rebounds. Vazquez, who had a historic triple-double in PCC's season opener v. El Camino on Nov. 8, nearly did it again as he scored eight points with 12 assists, nine rebounds and six steals. Off the PCC bench, Donovan Ford was 4-for-4 from the floor for eight points and five boards and Adrian Hernandez tallied seven points. 

One of the team's downfalls was making just 3-for-19 from long range compared to 11 bombs from 3-point range by the Hawks (5-0). 

"Last year in this home tourney, we didn't play well and lost both games, but this year I thought we did a lot of encouraging things," said PCC head coach Ryan Frazer. "Really we fought hard v. Santiago Canyon and it just came down to the last seconds, then we outplayed Glendale and controlled that victory. Our defense was strong v. Glendale and Dylan, who is off to a great start this season, really got our bench excited with his 3-pointers. Different guys are contributing so far too and that's important to our future success."

PCC plays its first road game on Saturday, Nov. 23 at LA Southwest College. Tip-off is 3 p.m.