Los Angeles, Calif. – In a hard-fought and unusual game, the Mt. SAC Men's Basketball Team edged LA Trade-Tech 73–69 in overtime on Friday, January 30. With the win, the Mounties improved to 19–3 on the season and remained undefeated in South Coast Conference play at 4–0. The Beavers fell to 11–11 overall and 3–1 in SCC North action.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
The Mounties are typically known for a balanced offensive attack and a strong bench, but this matchup felt particularly lopsided, leaning heavily on a few key contributors.
Jeremy Williams got Mt. SAC on the board, knocking down back-to-back three-pointers in the opening minute and a half to give the Mounties an early advantage. LA Trade-Tech responded with a three from Kemaree Germany and a pair of free throws from Franklyn Chambers, but the Mounties held control throughout the first half. Williams poured in 17 first-half points, while Ryan Wheeler controlled the glass as Mt. SAC took a 32–27 lead into the break.
But the momentum shifted in the second half. About five minutes in, the Beavers tied the score at 37–37 on a three-pointer by Jordan Webster, then grabbed their first lead of the night on a Webster layup. Chambers and Will Smith III extended the advantage to six – their largest of the game – before Mt. SAC started making their way back in.
Dayvon Gates ignited the comeback with three straight layups to put the Mounties back in front. Omari Abdallah also energized the team with a powerful dunk as the game intensified.
With three minutes remaining, LA Trade-Tech regained the lead on back-to-back layups by Brett Deans. Williams answered with a layup and a free throw, but the Beavers pulled ahead once more following a Mt. SAC timeout. In the final second of regulation, Gates was fouled on a three-point attempt and calmly sank all three free throws to force overtime.
Mt. SAC struck first in overtime with a layup from Gates and a three-pointer from Abdallah. After LA Trade-Tech pulled within one in the final minute, Williams sealed the win with a layup and two free throws in the closing seconds, lifting the Mounties to a 73–69 victory.
Williams finished with 24 points to lead the Mounties, while Gates added 20 and Abdallah contributed 14. Despite limited scoring beyond the trio—a rare sight for Mt. SAC—the Mounties found a way to pull off the win.
KEY PLAYERS:
- Jeremy Williams: Team-high 24 points, 5 rebounds, 1 assist
- Dayvon Gates: 20 points, 6 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, 1 block
- Omari Abdallah: 14 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 4 blocks
- Will Smith III (LA Trade-Tech): Game-high 25 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists
NEXT UP:
The Mounties will return home to host Los Angeles City College (3–19, 1–3) on Wednesday, February 4, at 5:00 p.m.
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.