The Pasadena City College men's basketball team jumped out to a 12-point halftime lead, extended it to 15 and then let it slip away late Friday night against visiting Los Angeles Southwest College. But point guard Khristion Courseault came to the rescue, making a pair of jump shots in the last 70 seconds to give the Lancers a 68-65 victory.
LA Southwest (5-9) made a furious rally from down 60-45, grabbing its only lead of the game, 65-64, on a rebound and basket by DeAndre Rice-Currie, with 1:30 left. On the ensuing possession, Courseault drained a 17-foot jumper from the corner to regain the PCC lead. With 15 seconds left, the freshman guard swished a launch from the top of the key to seal PCC's ninth triumph (9-5 overall).
All five Lancers starters scored in double digits with Chris Odionu playing tenacious defense and high-energy offense to lead the team on 16 points, 12 rebounds, and four blocks. Chris Blount added 13 points and 15 rebounds plus four assists. Courseault totaled 13 points and five assists while Josiah Woods contributed 10 points and four assists. Jordan Simpson scored 10 points before fouling out late in the contest.
LASW was paced by Travis Reynor with a game-high 24 points.
PCC returns to the floor on Wednesday, Jan. 9 when it travels to face Los Angeles Harbor College at 6 p.m.
IMPERIAL VALLEY CROSSOVER TOURNAMENT
On Dec. 28-29, the Lancers closed out the year 2018 with two hard-fought games at the Imperial Valley College Holiday Crossover Tournament. In the opener, PCC won its third overtime game of the season, defeating College of the Desert, 89-85. Blount scored 25 points, Woods had 18 points (four 3-pointers), seven boards and five assists, and Simpson added 17 points, 13 rebounds and blocked six shots.
In the second game, host Imperial Valley edged Pasadena, 73-70. Blount posted a double-double on 18 points and 16 rebounds as did Simpson on 11 points and 10 boards. Woods scored 16 points and Courseault chipped in 12.