LA City (21-2) got big performances from a variety of players to outlast a stubborn LA Southwest (13-9) before an SRO audience in the nightcap of the MLK Classic doubleheader Sunday night at LACC, 87-79.
There were different standouts in each half for LACC, which used its outstanding depth to post its 8th straight win.
In the first half, PF Tyrone Riley made 10 of his first 11 shots from the floor and had 22 pts at the half. And SF Anthony Davis added 8 pts plus 3 asts as the Cubs took a 48-43 edge into the locker room.
But when the second half began, Southwest stayed close, and the Cougars took a lead at 56-54 when SF Deon Davis scored on a spectacular putback jam and FT just over 4 mins in.
Then came LACC's second wave: PG Jerel Blassingame and PF Julian Sensley. Neither had started the game, and they had combined for just 5 pts in the first half, but they combined to spur the Cubs onto a 21-7 run on a variety of jumpers and alley-oop jams.
LACC still led 81-71 into the final minutes when LASW's Sean Terrell nailed a pair of 3-pointers to close the gap to 81-77, but that was as close as the Cougars would get.
Sensley, despite playing only about half the game, finished with 19 pts and 7 rebs in a truly dominant performance. Blassingame dished out a game-high 9 asts and added 9 pts. SG Wilbur Williams had a very strong game with 14 pts, 10 rebs and 4 asts. Riley scored all 22 of his team-high pts before hafltime, but also grabbed a game-high 11 rebs.
For Southwest, Terrell led the way with game-high 24 pts, all on 3-pointers. He finished 8 of 11 shooting on the night. Davis had 20 pts and 5 rebs from off the bench. Guard Michael Ford had a rough night shooting, going 3 of 11, but had team bests of 7 rebs and 4 asts.
LACC shot a remarkable 56% from the floor on the night, but Southwest stayed in the game with 11 3-pointers and by forcing 20 turnovers, including 11 steals. LACC held the Cougars to 39% shooting and blocked 10 shots.
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Sunday, January 19, 2003 - 8 pm
MLK 2003 Classic - Game 2 @ LACC
South Coast Conference
LA Southwest Cougars 79:
3-Sean Terrell, PG - 8/11 fg, 1 reb, 2 ast, 24 pts
5-Michael Ford, 3G - 3/11 fg, 7 reb, 4 ast, 1 blk, 2 stl, 7 pts
14-Darron Lewis, SG - 2/10 fg, 1 reb, 3 ast, 1 stl, 5 pts
30-Jason Perry, C - 3/10 fg, 4/7 ft, 6 reb, 2 ast, 1 blk, 1 stl, 10 pts
33-Mike Washington, F - 3/10 fg, 3 reb, 1 ast, 6 pts
21-Duane Fields, F - 2/8 fg, 2 reb, 1 ast, 5 pts
10-Deon Davis, F - 7/13 fg, 6/9 ft, 5 reb, 3 ast, 1 blk, 1 stl, 20 pts
22-Cory Walker, F - 1/2 fg, 2 reb, 1 stl, 2 pts
24-Aaron Mitchell, G - 1 reb, 4 stl, 0 pts
team rebounds: 5
Totals: 29/75 fg (.387), 10/16 ft (.625), 33 reb, 16 ast, 3 blk, 11 stl, 79 pts
3-pt fg (11): Terrell 8, Ford, Lewis, Fields
Turnovers (11): Ford 4, Terrell 3, Davis 2, Lewis, Walker
LA City Cubs 87:
3-Tyrone Riley, C - 10/16 fg, 2/2 ft, 11 reb, 2 ast, 2 blk, 22 pts
5-Dwaun Rice, PG - 0/4 fg, 2/4 ft, 3 reb, 4 ast, 1 stl, 2 pts
13-Jaqay Carlyle, PF - 1/2 fg, 1 reb, 1 ast, 3 blk, 1 stl, 2 pts
24-Anthony Davis, SF - 3/9 fg, 2/3 ft, 6 reb, 4 ast, 1 blk, 9 pts
33-Wilbur Williams, SG - 6/8 fg, 2/3 ft, 10 reb, 4 ast, 1 blk, 1 stl, 14 pts
10-Jerel Blassingame, G - 3/7 fg, 2/2 ft, 3 reb, 9 ast, 9 pts
11-Lanere Anderson, G - 2/4 fg, 2/2 ft, 1 reb, 1 ast, 8 pts
21-Nashid Beard, C - 2 blk, 0 pts
41-Julian Sensley, F - 8/10 fg, 2/4 ft, 7 reb, 2 ast, 1 blk, 19 pts
0-Jacob Johnson, F - 1/1 fg, 2 pts
team rebounds: 4
Totals: 34/61 fg (.557), 14/20 ft (.700), 46 reb, 27 ast, 10 blk, 3 stl, 87 pts
3-pt fg (5): Anderson 2, Davis, Blassingame, Sensley
Turnovers (20): Riley 3, Davis 3, Williams 3, Anderson 3, Sensley 3, Johnson 2, Rice, Blassingame, Beard
Halftime Score: LACC 48, LASW 43
Updated Records: LACC (#2 South, #4 Calif) 21-2, LASW 13-9
LACC took control on a 21-7 run early in the second half which was led by Blassingame and Sensley. Riley scored all his pts in the first half; Sensley scored 17 of his in the second half. A pair of threes by Terrell brought LASW to within 4 at 81-77 with just under 2 mins left, but that's as close as they would get.
