Hawks Win Big in Second Conference Contest

The Santiago Canyon College men's basketball team was all gas and no brakes in an Orange Empire Conference (OEC) showdown against the Riverside City College Tigers on Thursday night on home hardwood. Nine players scored at least one point while five players surpassed the double-digit mark en route to a dominant 29-point triumph.

The Hawks' record moves to 11-3 with a 2-0 conference start after their 91-62 victory over Riverside.

The Hawks were dynamite from the floor by carting a season-high 56.1 percent shooting mark. They utilized seven three pointers to own a 33.3 percent clip from long range. While the offense was impressive after 91 points, it was the defense that truly shined. The brigade held the Tigers to 62 points, which ties a season-low for the Hawks. Furthermore, they forced Riverside to cough up the rock 18 times which shaped into 21 points.

Leading the charge on the offensive end was sophomore guard Kai Smith. He dropped 20 points for his fifth-consecutive double-digit game. He also tallied six rebounds, three assists and a steal in the process. He sits at 17.9 points-per-game which ranks fifth in the conference.

Freshman guard Tony Colley dropped in a casual 16 points on a 7-for-9 night from the floor to go along with five rebounds and a career-high four steals. Freshman guard Trevor Manning matched his efforts in a supporting role with 16 points and four rebounds.

Sophomore guard Damien Parker bagged 12 points, four rebounds and three assists, while freshman center Chico Lopez earned the nod in the starting five leading to 11 points and four boards.

Freshman guard Marly Jaisel saw time in the later stages of the blowout leading to three points, while freshman Johnny Sun and sophomore Caleb Hong combined for eight minutes of action.