(Walnut, CA) In the first South Coast Conference crossover basketball game of the season, visiting Cerritos College defeated Mt. SAC, 62-50 Friday night (1/4).
With the loss the Mounties slipped to 5-8 overall.
The Mounties trailed, 15-14 with 7:47 remaining before halftime, but the Falcons scored eight consecutive points and finished with a 14-4 run and a 29-18 lead at the break.
The Mounties nearly played Cerritos even in the second half, with the Falcons holding a 33-32 edge.
After trailing by 11 at the half, the Falcons built up a 14-point lead, 34-20 with just 2:30 elapsed in the second half.
However, in a one-minute span, layups by Mt. SAC guards Joseph Gonzalez (3 for 8 FGM, 2-2 FTM, 4 RB) and Cyree Dunnell (13 points) and a pair of free throws by forward Israel Mansker (5-6 FTM, 7 RB, 5 Assts., 2 Blks.) brought the Mounties to their closest deficit of the half, 34-26.
That was the closest they would get to the Falcons, who improved to 12-2 on the season.
Cerritos went on a 13-3 run that saw the lead stretch to 47-29 just under the 10-minute mark.
Gonzalez, who finished with 10 points, sank two late 3-pointers as the Mounties lost by a 12-point margin.
The Mounties play another SCC crossover game at El Camino on Wednesday (1/9).
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For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.