Men's Hoops Get Back On Track With Road Win Over Long Beach

After a pair of losses to two state-ranked teams, the Pasadena City College men's basketball team roared to an 87-63 win over host Long Beach City College on Friday night.

The Lancers (8-8 overall) jumped out to an 18-4 lead and never looked back as Darrius Freeman finished two assists short of a triple-double on 12 points, 10 rebounds and eight helpers. Cooper Creamer led all scorers with 17 points (7-for-8 from the free throw line) and grabbed 11 rebounds. 

All 12 PCC players reached the scoring column with Korey Perkins tallying 13 points (3-for-3 from 3-point range) and Gor-el Zollicoffer netting 11. Coming off the bench, Donovan Ford scored six, pulled down a team-high 14 rebounds and dished out seven assists. Brandin Jackson, Zakhary Van Patten, and Julian Thompkins each scored six points and Gavin Hollins-Law posted five.

On Jan. 7, the Lancers fell at state #6-ranked Cerritos, 84-70, despite getting as close as 39-36 early in the second half. Reserve guard Churchill Ikenador, who had just 34 points all season going into the game, poured in 20 points, including draining four treys, while Freeman added 16 points, six assists and five rebounds. Both Thompkins, who started, and Creamer (seven boards) reached 11 points a piece. Jackson contributed six points and four steals.

On Dec. 30, PCC had one slip away in an 88-87 overtime defeat at #17-ranked Palomar. The Lancers led by 11 at 24-13, and took a 30-23 lead into halftime before the Comets pulled ahead 71-59 with 3:31 left. Pasadena made a furious rally in the final minute and sent it to overtime as Freeman took an inbounds pass with 3.9 seconds left from under the PCC basket, firing upcourt to a streaking Jackson, who hit a layup at the buzzer at 78-78.

Jackson made a 3-pointer and a basket-and-one in the 5-minute OT period as Pasadena tied it at 84-84. Jaidyn Norman hit a turnaround 12-foot jumper to make it 88-84 Palomar advantage. Freeman made a layup and drew a foul with 5.6 seconds to go, but after making the first free throw, his second was a little long. PCC had one last chance as Palomar's Tore-Andre Gray blocked Jackson's last-second shot in the lane to give the Comets the victory.

Jackson and Zollicoffer each scored 18 points, Freeman had 15 and five assists while Ford collected a double-double on 14 points and 11 rebounds. Drew Pierce led Palomar on 19 points. 

PCC returns to Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium on Wednesday, Jan. 14 against Los Angeles Harbor in a 5 p.m. tip-off. The Lancers will begin the 10-game, South Coast Conference North Division schedule on Jan. 21 in a home contest v. Los Angeles City.