The Pasadena City College men's basketball team is gearing up for the final week of the South Coast Conference North Division schedule and 2022-2023 regular season. The Lancers made it 13 wins in their last 14 games with a convincing 68-51 victory at Mt. San Antonio on Feb. 8.

PCC improved to 19-7 overall and 5-1 in occupying second place in the division. The date of Friday, Feb. 17 is circled as the Lancers hope to be playing for at least a share of the conference title when they face #8 East Los Angeles College on Sophomore Night. The Lancers first must get by host Rio Hondo on Wednesday, Feb. 15. All conference games have 7 p.m. tip-offs following the women's games. 

Against Mt. SAC, the Lancers made defense a priority and limited the Mounties to tie a season-best in least points allowed this season (matches 51 scored by LA Pierce on Nov. 19). 

While the Lancers offense was also held in check, PCC led 27-21 by halftime. Mt. SAC (10-15, 1-5 in SCC North play) cut it to 29-26 early in the second half. At that point. the Pasadena completly shut down the Mounties, outscoring them a slow but game-changing 20-3 run. Mt. SAC went nine minutes without making a single field goal (0-for-6 shooting) and PCC forced the Mounties into seven turnovers. 

Nigel Wilson had a couple of dunks and two free throws during the run as he finished with a game-high 18 points and 10 rebounds. Nurridin Abdur-Rahmann added 12 points and Myles Watkings 10 points. Jonathan Tchengang and Rande Harper each tallied eight points.

PCC found going hard to the hoop a better option this game (made 24-of-49 from 2-point range, 49 percent) and attempted a season-low 11 shots from beyond the 3-point line, making one (tied for a season low). The Lancers were efficient at the free throw line, sinking 17 of 24 attempts (71 percent).

Coach Ryan Frazer will likely be focusing on 3-point shooting in the next few practices after a 3-game stretch that has seen the Lancers make just 10-for-64 (15.6 percent) from outside the arc.