ELAC Men’s Basketball in Drivers Seat with Win 72-60 Over Mt. SAC

MONTEREY PARK, CA — The Huskies men’s basketball team defeated Mt. San Antonio College 72-60 and sits atop the South Coast Conference North Division standings with three games left in the regular season.

There was a three-way tie for the SCC North a week ago between No. 11 state-ranked ELAC, No. 18 Chaffey College and unranked Mt. SAC, which has developed tonight into a one team race, if the Huskies win their final three games prior to the playoffs.

The Huskies (21-5, 6-1) are alone in first place with the 12-point win, which knocked Mt. SAC (12-12, 5-2) into sole possession of second place.

In other SCC North action tonight, Rio Hondo College (6-16, 3-4) shocked its 30-year conference rival Chaffey (17-9, 4-3), 77-60, which dropped the Panthers into third place. Chaffey lost 58-53 to Mt. SAC last week.

ELAC opened the game with a 10-0 run that included two jump shots from freshman guard Nick Hart (West Covina High School). After the Mounties scored two free throws, ELAC sophomore forward Roderick Williams (Price HS) slammed a dunk, assisted by sophomore guard Robert Fuller (St. Bernard HS).

The Huskies built a 13-point lead, 25-12, from a layup off the glass from freshman center Solomon Hunt (Upland HS) with 7:48 left in the first half. Six minutes later, Williams dunked again, assisted by Fuller, which brought the house down. Williams then connected on a free throw and made it a three-point play. The Huskies led 33-23.

The first half ended with ELAC on top, 37-27 in which Williams scored a team-high 11 points. He was 7-of-7 from the free throw line.

In the second half, Mt. SAC chipped at the lead and came within six points, down 56-50 with 5:06 remaining in the game. ELAC went on a 15-0 run and sealed the victory. The Huskies led 65-50 lead with 2:26 left in the game.

Three Huskies scored in double figures. Williams led the trio with a double double that included 18 points and 12 rebounds. Williams had five assists and two steals. Freshman forward Jacob Tryon (Great Oak HS) scored 12 points and finished with eight rebounds, five off the offensive glass, and two steals.

Hunt score nine points and had eight rebounds, five off of the offensive boards. Hart finished with nine points and six rebounds. The Huskies finished with seven blocked shots, two each from Tryon and Hunt and one each from Hart, Williams and sophomore guard Frank Bertz (Sultana HS), who had a team-high six assists.

ELAC shot 42.9% (24-of-56) and had an impressive 55 rebounds and 16 assists. Mt. SAC stats are not yet available.

In other SCC North play, Pasadena City College (9-15, 1-6) slapped LA Trade Tech College (7-14, 2-5) 67-57 for its first SCC North win.

The Huskies play a dangerous Rio Hondo squad in the Roadrunners nest on Friday at 7 p.m.

Follow ELAC Athletics at http://athletics.elac.edu/landing/index or on Facebook at ELAC Huskies Athletics (@elachuskiesathletics).

story submitted by Tadzio Garcia