The #15-seed Pasadena City College men's basketball team resembled the proverbial guy at the casino who scored big on a couple of hands early only to give it all back to the house in its SoCal Regional Round 1 Playoff game Wednesday night v. #18 seed Cuesta.
After letting a comfortable 25-point lead fall by the wayside, the Lancers went on another hot streak and got past the Cougars, 73-57, at Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium.
PCC (18-11) advances to play at formidable #2 Citrus in Round 2 on Saturday, Mar. 1 at 7 p.m.
PCC started as well as any game this season as they went up 10-0 on a Cooper Creamer layup, then 15-2 on a Jalen Vazquez fast-break basket. A Dylan Swillis slam, a Quinlan Daly 3-pointer, another Vazquez bucket, and a Kaiden Fine jumper built it to 27-6. Vazquez drove the lane for another layin and the lead was at 25, 34-9 with nine minutes left in the first half.
But as spurts go in the sport, Cuesta (19-10) whittled way at the large deficit. Shinichi Itoh netted a pair of 3s and his steal and layup cut it to 41-30 by the intermission. In the second half, it was more of the same for the Cougars as PCC's offense sputtered. Another steal and basket by Itoh was followed by a tip-in from 6-foot-9 center Alessandro Perottias an amazing comeback tied it for Cuesta at 46-46 just seven minutes into the half.
After a timeout, the Lancers needed a re-set and got it from Daly as the reserve frosh wing buried back-to-back bombs from 3-point land. He drained another 3-pointer that upped PCC's advantage to 61-49. Better Lancers defense prevented Cuesta from mounting another rally as Pasadena advanced to the second round for the third straight sesaon under head coach Ryan Frazer.
"Having such a big lead so early, it was almost inevitable that they would come back at some point," Frazer said. "Obviously I didn't want them to tie it, but that's what happens in the playoffs. I thought we did a good job of not panicking at that point and sticking to the original game plan even with that hiccup. We remained poised and closed the game out down the stretch."
Swillis, an All-South Coast Conference North Division First Team wing, scored 21 points (8-for-12 from the field), grabbed nine rebounds and had three assists while fellow All-SCC selection Vazquez pushed the PCC offense in full throttle, finishing with 18 points, six assists, and three steals. All of Daly's four treys were at big moments as he scored 12 points.
Pasadena's defense was huge at the team made 17 steals overall, forcing Cuesta into 22 turnovers. Creamer (eight points), Fine (seven points and six boards), Darrius Freeman and backup guard LaQwon Cole each recorded three takeaways.
The Lancers shot 51.9 percent from the floor and hit 11 of 12 free throws (91.7). The Cougars were paced by Itoh's 21 points and five steals while Perotti added 18 points and 10 rebounds.
PCC's Round 2 opponent Citrus is 26-2 overall and clinched a third consecutive Western State South Division title at 14-0. The Owls are on a 20-game winning streak and boast the state's highest scoring team at 103.5 points per contest. Tyler Isaak leads five different Citrus players who are averaging in double figures at an 18.5 points per game clip.
If the Lancers upset Citrus, they would play in the Regional Finals on Saturday, Mar. 8 v. the winner of #7 Moorpark v. #10 Cypress.