Men's Cagers, Swillis Rebound From Tough Loss With Winning Effort v. LA Trade Tech

Two evenings ago, the Pasadena City College men's basketball team allowed Los Angeles City to steal a game from the Lancers, 64-63, on an off night for the team and post forward Dylan Swillis. PCC responded Friday by getting a sterling performance by Swillis, who scored 20 points and grabbed 15 rebounds in an 84-79, South Coast Conference North Division victory over LA Trade Tech at Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium. 

PCC's third home game in five days was one in which the Lancers jockeyed in a close first half, falling behind 37-29, but going on an 11-2 run to close out the first half for a 40-39 advantage. Swillis hit three straight baskets during the spurt. 

Limited to just 19 minutes and fouling out with just 10 points v. LACC, Swillis dominated the post v. LA Trade-Tech as he made 9-for-12 from the field and grabbed 11 defensive rebounds.

But Kaiden Fine also was instrumental as he matched his season high with 20 points. He swished a trey, then hit a basket-and-one that lifted PCC ahead, 61-55. When LATT made a push to cut it to 64-60, Swillis got loose inside for a basket, Fine followed a 3-point miss by grabbing the rebound and laying it. 

Reserve guard LaQwon Cole hit back-to-back 3-pointers that put a dagger in Trade Tech's hopes and made it 77-64 with 2:25 left. Cole scored all 13 of his points in the second half and added three steals. 

State assists leader Jalen Vazquez recorded a double-double as he scored 17 points and dished out 10 assists while making four steals. Cooper Creamer contributed eight poitns and three steals while Darrius Freeman tallied six points. 

PCC shot well from the floor by going inside as it finished with a 58 percent accuracy, making 33 of 57 shots. The Lancers upped their season record to 14-10 and evened their division record at 3-3.

In the loss to LA City, PCC led 34-28 by halftime and upped it to 43-34 on a Vazquez layup. LACC crawled back in it, but a Fine trey tied it at 59-59. At that point, Bryce Townsend drilled a 3-pointer, then two free throws by AJ Robinson proved to be the winning points with 1:27 left. 

Creamer finished with a team-high 16 points plus five rebounds, three assists, three steals, and two blocks. Vazquez totaled six points, eight boards, and seven assists.

Coach Ryan Frazer's Lancers host state #3 Mt. San Antonio on Wednesday, Feb. 12 in a 7 p.m. conference tilt.