Huskies Split First Two SCC North Games—Shocked by Mt. SAC
WALNUT, CA — The No. 6-ranked East Los Angeles College men’s basketball team split its first two South Coast Conference North Division games, which included a 67-64 shocking loss at Mt. San Antonio College tonight.
It was the biggest upset loss in the state since December 14 when then No. 1 San Bernardino Valley College lost 54-52 to unranked Mt. SAC.
The Huskies won 82-52 over Pasadena City College on Wednesday at home.
Against Mt. SAC, the Huskies opened the game with a 10-0 run and built their largest lead, 41-30, from freshman forward Jacob Tryon’s jump shot with 17:24 left in the game.
Mt. SAC began a rally with a 9-0 run to pull within two, down 41-39 with 13:56 left. Another Mt. SAC 9-0 run put the Mounties on top 59-50 with 6:05 remaining in the game. The Huskies got no closer than three points.
The Mt. SAC comeback from being down by double digits was coupled with an ELAC defensive lapse, which resulted in 10 treys for Mt. SAC. ELAC was outrebounded 36-28.
On offense, the Huskies shot 52.2 % at the charity stripe (12-of-23), was 0-for-7 from beyond the arc and had 18 turnovers, four more than they had in their 20-point win over Pasadena.
Sophomore forward Roderick Williams (Price High School) scored 14 points for ELAC. Sophomore guard Robert Fuller (St. Bernard HS) and freshman center Solomon Hunt (Upland HS) each scored nine points for the Huskies.
Against Pasadena, ELAC led 40-29 at the half enroute to the victory. The Huskies outshot Pasadena 47.5% (28-of-59) to 37.0% (17-of-46). The ELAC defense also shined with more rebounds 43-30. ELAC pulled down 15 offensive rebounds, which gave them more second chance opportunities that they took advantage of.
Freshman forward Jacob Tryon (Great Oak HS) towered for a season-high seven blocked shots. Tryon’s ability to impact the game defensively has been his greatest asset. He averages 2.0 blocked shots per game, 9th best in the state.
Williams scored a team-high 20 points as did Pasadena’s Kyle Mitchell. Two other Huskies scored in double digits, Tryon scored 16 points and sophomore guard Frank Bertz (Sultana HS) added 10. Bertz hit two treys, ELAC’s only three-pointers.
ELAC hosts two SCC North games next week. Rio Hondo comes to the South Gym’s “E”rena on Wednesday, Jan. 24 and ELAC hosts crosstown rival Los Angeles Trade Tech on Friday, Jan. 26. Both games begin 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