Walnut, Calif. – The Mt. SAC Men's Basketball team started the new year off right, rolling past El Camino College, 88-60, on Friday, January 2. The win lifts the Mounties to 13-2 on the season, while the Warriors drop to 9-6.
Adding to the celebration, Mt. SAC received a belated holiday boost in the latest state rankings. Released December 26, the Mounties jumped from No. 15 to No. 8 statewide.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
Ethan Nelson kicked things off with a quick layup and the Mounties never looked back. Dayvon Gates led all scorers in the first half with 14 points, while El Camino's Linken Tate kept pace with 13 of his own. Ryan Wheeler chipped in eight points and four rebounds, and Jeremy Williams added four boards as Mt. SAC built a solid 41-26 lead at the break.
With a comfortable cushion, Head Coach Fenison turned to the bench in the second half, and the reserves delivered. Alejandro Munoz sparked the Mounties with nine points, knocking down all five of his free throws and grabbing six rebounds. Williams and Nelson continued their strong play, while Tate and Landon Starnes added eight and 10 points, respectively, for the Warriors. Mt. SAC outscored El Camino 47-34 in the second half to seal the win.
The Mounties shot an even 50% from the field and an impressive 81.3% from the free-throw line. They finished with 36 rebounds, 13 assists, and 19 points off turnovers. Mt. SAC's bench was a major factor, contributing 37 points, and the Mounties led by as many as 29 during the contest.
KEY PLAYERS:
- Dayvon Gates (Mt. SAC): Team-high 18 points, game-high 6 assists, 2 rebounds, 1 steal
- Ethan Nelson (Mt. SAC): 13 points, 11 rebounds, 2 steals
- Linken Tate (El Camino): Game-high 21 points, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals, 1 block
NEXT UP:
The Mounties hit the road for their next matchup against Compton College (7-8) on Wednesday, January 7, at 5:00 PM.
STAY CONNECTED:
Follow Mt. SAC Men's Basketball on twitter @MtSAC_MBKB or Instagram /mt.sacbasketball/
Follow Mt. SAC Athletics on twitter @MtSAC_athletics Instagram /mtsac_athletics/ or Facebook @Mountie.Athletics
For additional information, please contact the Mt. SAC Sports Information Office at 909.274.4630.
