SCC North Opening-Win For Men's Basketball A Matter Of Just Adding Creamer

Freshman forward Cooper Creamer picked the right time to have a breakout performance. The 6-foot-5 post player produced season bests in points with 25 and for the first time reached double figures in rebounds with 11 as the Pasadena City College men's basketball team opened South Coast Conference North Division play with a 75-67 victory at LA Trade-Tech on Wednesday night.

Creamer stayed hot from the field as he made 9-for-11 (82 percent) and from the free throw line (7-for-8) as he helped carry the Lancers especially in the second half. 

Meanwhile, the sharp outside shooting of fellow freshman Quinlan Daly got PCC going in the first half. Daly hit four consecutive 3-pointers in the opening 6-and-half minutes as PCC jumped ahead 15-6. The wing landed two more treys, then reserve guard LaQwon Cole sank a 3 and added a steal and layup just before the first-half buzzer for a 41-28 Lancers lead.

In the seccond half, PCC relied on Creamer's inside play and his 17 points to thwart any chances of a LATT comeback. 

Daly scored all 18 of his points in the first half and was 6-for-10 from beyond the arc overall. Since the start of the new year, Daly has averaged 16 points over the past four contests.

Point guard Jalen Vazquez added to his state-leading assists total with 11 helpers along with six points, five rebounds and three steals while Cole and Darrius Freeman contributed nine points each.  

"We've been hoping to see Cooper deliver like he did v. Trade Tech," said PCC head coach Ryan Frazer. "Now we are seeing our freshmen make key contributions that we were not getting much of during tournament play. Quinlan and Cooper have stepped up in different ways and LaQwon is turning into a nice spark plug off the bench."

Pasadena takes an 11-7 overall record into Friday's division game at state #3-ranked Mt. San Antonio, a team with a 17-1 mark and coming off its 11th straight win, 90-75 over Rio Hondo in the Mounties' SCC opener.