Late Run Lifts No. 8 Hawks to Win Over No. 2 Fullerton

A battle of top-ranked teams unfolded on Friday night in Orange Empire Conference (OEC) action as the No. 8 Santiago Canyon College Hawks hosted the No. 2 Fullerton College Hornets. The game was marked by four ties and 10 lead changes, but an eight-point run by the Hawks in the final moments of the second half toppled the Hornets, with Santiago Canyon emerging victorious by a final score of 86-78.

With under four minutes remaining, the Hawks held a three-point lead, but a three-pointer from Fullerton tied the game at 78-all with just over two minutes to go.

Santiago Canyon dug in during the final stretch, with sophomore Trevor Manning stepping up on the next possession. Manning was fouled beyond the arc, earning three free throws, which he calmly cashed to give the Hawks a three-point lead.

Fullerton's next possession ended with a missed three-pointer, which was rebounded by sophomore Tony Colley. The Hawks then called a timeout with 12 seconds left on the shot clock. Out of the timeout, Colley connected on a layup off an inbound play, extending SCC's lead.

Fullerton's head coach was assessed a technical foul after the Hornets failed to score on the ensuing possession. Freshman Colin Weems capitalized on the opportunity, sinking two free throws to seal the victory for the Hawks.

Colley led Santiago Canyon with 23 points, including a 4-for-7 performance from beyond the arc. He also added five rebounds, a steal, a block, and an assist. Weems contributed 17 points and five rebounds, while freshman EJ Bryson chipped in 13 points.

Sophomore Eli Arthurton was the leading scorer off the bench, posting 12 points on 5-for-10 shooting. Freshman Connor McKee, tasked with defending against Fullerton's tall offensive unit, grabbed nine rebounds and recorded a game-high 10 assists to nearly secure a double-double.

While Fullerton slightly outshot the Hawks from the field, Santiago Canyon excelled from three-point range, posting a 41.4% shooting percentage. Additionally, the Hawks committed just eight turnovers, compared to Fullerton's 18.

This victory marks the second time in the last three meetings that the Hawks have defeated the Hornets, allowing them to claim first place in the OEC standings.