Second-Half Struggles Hand Hawks First Loss

The Santiago Canyon College men's basketball team held a narrow three-point lead entering halftime against the Antelope Valley College Marauders on Thursday night at the Skip Robinson Tournament hosted by Pasadena City College. Despite the lead, the Hawks were outplayed in the final 20 minutes leading to a 79-74 defeat.

Sophomore guard Isaiah Arthurton put the Hawks up by six points after flushing a three pointer in the early stages of the second half. Despite a mini run by Antelope Valley, freshman forward Chico Lopez kept the advantage in the Hawk's grasp by hitting a three pointer. He followed with a layup two possessions later leading into a Hawks timeout at the 14-minute mark.

Both teams began to trade blows in the final 10 minutes as freshman guard Trevor Manning kissed two points off the glass to extend SCC's lead to 62-55 to force a Marauder timeout. However, an 8-0 run for Antelope Valley out of the timeout found the Hawks down by three with just under six minutes remaining.

Sophomore guard Joey Longo answered with a three pointer to pull the Hawks within two points of the lead at the four-minute mark, backed by another bucket on the ensuing possession. However, Longo committed a foul that sent AVC to the line inside the final minute.

Sophomore guard Kai Smith had an opportunity to tie the game at 77 all with a three pointer just before the buzzer, but narrowly missed leading to the defeat.

The Hawks shot a season low 38.1 percent from the floor which encompassed a season-low 21.6 mark from long range. They made it to the line 22 times and cashed in 17 attempts, but were outrebounded by a 38-26 ratio.

Smith locked in his sixth-consecutive double-digit showing with 15 points, while Lopez led the team with 16-point in 22 minutes off the bench.

Longo flirted with a double-double by dropping 12 points and hauling in seven rebounds, while freshman guard Eli Arthurton bagged 11 points, four rebounds and four assists.