In a tight contest leading 19-15, the Pasadena City College men's basketball team worked it around until Josiah Woods swished a 3-pointer from the corner. The next trip down Giovonni Jackson launched in a trey from the top of the circle. Then Patric Panoosi liked what he was seeing and he netted back-to-back triples. Then it was backup Rod Terry's turn and he added three 3s himself. In all, PCC made nine 3-point baskets in a wild first half and went on to beat Rio Hondo, 80-65, Friday night at Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium.

For the game's first 20 minutes, the Lancers outscored the Roadrunners, 50-34, in an up-tempo shoot-a-thon. PCC made 9 of 15 from long range, including four by Panoosi and the three by Terry. While PCC only made one other 3 in the second half, the damage was done and PCC maintained its large lead for most of the second half. Rio Hondo did get to within six, 58-52, but Woods corner 3 brought the momentum back to PCC. Moments later, Jordan Simpson and Chris Blount each shook up the gym with back-to-back showtime dunks that sent the team back to a 15-point advantage.

Blount led four Lancers in double digits scoring with 18 points to go with nine rebounds. Simpson added 14 points and five rebounds while blocking seven shots. Panoosi totaled 12 points, six rebounds and four assists while Chris Odionu was frenetic with 12 points, eight rebounds and six assists. Terry scored nine off the bench and both Woods and Giovonni Jackson (and six assists) had six points each. 

PCC ended a 2-game losing streak and now stands at 15-9 and 3-3 in the South Coast Conference North Division. Pasadena will finish above .500 for the first time since the 2013-14 season and hopes to do enough to be selected as a seed in the Southern California Regional Playoffs. It's last postseason appearance was also in the '13-14 season. 

Despite 18 points by Uziel Felix, Rio Hondo fell to 3-21 and 0-6. 

The Lancers travel to face state #5 ranked East Los Angeles College on Wednesday, Feb.13 in a 5 p.m. tip-off.