Men’s Basketball Earns Fifth Seed in 3C2A Southern Regionals

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The Santiago Canyon College men's basketball team wrapped up the regular season with an impressive 24-6 record and a share of the Orange Empire Conference (OEC) Co-Championship. They also finished undefeated at home with a perfect 11-0 record. As a result of their impressive regular season run, the Hawks have earned the fifth seed in the 3C2A Southern Regional Championships. They will face the ninth-seeded San Bernardino Valley College Wolverines on Saturday, March 1 at 5 p.m.

The game will be available for free on the SCC Hawks YouTube channel. General admission is $12, with a discounted rate of $8 for faculty, staff, and students with a valid ID. Cash and credit cards will be accepted. 

This marks the eighth consecutive season that the Hawks have advanced to the Southern Regional Championships under the leadership of Head Coach Todd Dixon. It's also the second consecutive season in which they've earned a first-round bye, aiming to reach the championship tournament for the first time since 2020.

Santiago Canyon has been a high-powered offensive team this season, ranking in the top 10 in the state in scoring with an average of 86.5 points per game. The Hawks have scored 90 or more points in 15 games, and they were on a six-game winning streak before falling in the OEC Championship game last Friday.

Four of the Hawks' starters are averaging more than 12 points per game, with freshman EJ Bryson leading the way. Bryson, who was named the OEC Offensive Player of the Year, finished the regular season averaging 16 points per game, tying for second overall in the conference. He reached double digits in 24 games, including six with 20 or more points. His season-high of 29 points came in a triple-overtime victory over second-seeded Citrus in December. Bryson has scored in double digits in 15 of the last 16 games.

Following closely is sophomore sharpshooter Tony Colley, a two-time First-Team All-Conference award winner. Colley averages 15.8 points per game, ranking fourth overall in conference scoring. He has scored in double figures 25 times this season, including a standout performance in the first round of the OEC tournament where he poured in 32 points—more than half of the team's total in that game. Colley also contributes 8 rebounds per game, nearly averaging a double-double.

Sophomores Colin Weems and Trevor Manning round out the double-digit scorers, each averaging 12.3 points per game. Weems orchestrates the offense, averaging 3.1 assists and 1.2 steals per game. Manning contributes on both ends, adding four rebounds, 2.1 assists, and 1.4 steals per game.

Sophomore big man Connor McKee completes the starting five. A physical presence in the paint, McKee averages 6.7 rebounds, one block, and 4.9 points per game. Freshman Efe Gucoglu has been a valuable scoring option off the bench, contributing 8.7 points per game and shooting nearly 33 percent from beyond the arc. Sophomore Eli Arthurton adds seven points per game and nearly two assists per game.