Lesson In Playing As Team Helps Men's Basketball Edge LA Southwest

Pasadena City College interim men's basketball head coach Spenser Nunes knew he had to do something to shake his squad up after some internal issues with three of his players occurred after a recent defeat. So he disciplined them by not dressing them despite the hardship of playing short-handed v. an 11-6 Los Angeles Southwest team.

The message was sent as the rest of the Lancers played an inspired 40 minutes in defeating the Cougars, 92-89, at Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium on Friday night. The win allowed PCC to finish 9-9 in pre-conference play.

Picking up the slack was freshman Gor-el Zollicoffer, who poured in 29 points, drilling five shots from 3-point land and going a perfect 10-for-10 at the free throw line. Sophomore Darrius Freeman provided leadership in adding 18 points, eight assists and four steals. 

Two players had big performances off the bench in sophomore Julian Thompkins with 14 points (7-for-11 from the field) and frosh Zakhary Van Patten, who tallied 11 points. The Lancers shot 52 percent from the floor overall (28-for-54) and nearly hit 50 percent from long distance (12-for-25 on 3-pointers, 48 percent).

PCC knew it had to keep up with the state's fifth-highest scoring team. LA Southwest actually exceeded its season average of 87 points as Hosea Steele Jr. led five players in double digits scoring on 21 points plus five steals. 

A Freeman trey gave PCC a 47-43 halftime lead. LASW took a 74-72 advantage on a corner 3-point bomb by Omar Gardner with 8:31 left. The teams kept trading leads until Cooper Creamer sank two free throws to regain the Lancers lead at 85-84 with just 1:25 remaining. Zollicoffer made two free throw with seven seconds to go to finally put the win on ice. 

Nunes talked about how his decision to sit three players affected the outcome in a positive way. 

"Adversity has a way of revealing who you are," he said. "Tonight, our guys met the moment by leaning into he standard and not look around for excuses. This program is built on that standard, not circumstancs. We were short-handed, but the guys who were available didn't flinch. They played for each other, trusted one another, and truly believed in one another. And if they did the right things together as a team, the result would take care of itself. That toughness--mentally and physically--is exactly what Lancers basketball is about.

"Words can't describe how incredibly proud I am of this group."

On Jan. 14, Pasadena held visiting LA Harbor off the scoreboard for the game's first five minutes, but the Seahawks prevailed in a 77-65 win. Freeman, who sank 10-for-12 at the stripe, scored 18 points and dished out seven assists while Gavin Hollins-Law hit three triples as part of his 13 points. Zollicoffer added 10 points (5-for-5 at the line). 

The difference may have been Harbor's long distance shooting as the Seahawks were 10-for-21 from beyond the arc, helped by four from Nate Guevara (18 points). 

PCC now embarks on the 10-game, South Coast Conference North Division schedule as it hosts Los Angeles City on Wednesday, Jan. 21 in a 5 p.m. tip-off.