Williams Scores 35, Helps PCC Men’s Hoops Secure 3rd At Sequoias Tourney

The Pasadena City College men’s basketball team got back on the winning track with two victories and third place at the 8-team, College of the Sequoias Kirby Mannon Tournament held December 19-21. In the process, PCC snapped a 7-game losing streak and now are 3-8 on the season.

On Sunday in the third place final, the Lancers defeated Ventura, 69-63, behind a high-powered performance from freshman guard Dejon Williams. After starting the year in September as the starting quarterback on the Lancers football team, Williams joined the basketball team in late November. He scored a team season-high 35 points, including converting a perfect 14-for-14 from the free throw line. He was 9-for-15 from the floor, sinking three 3-point baskets. The 6-foot-2, Muir High product added five steals, three assists and five rebounds.

Named All-Sequoias Tournament, Williams made the most free throws without a miss at the line in a game for PCC since Feb. 12, 1994 when Todd Williams drained all of his school-record 22 free throws as part of his 38 points in a win over El Camino.

Other contributors v. Ventura were frosh guard Keith Langston with 12 points (and six rebounds), first-year forward Donell Tuff with eight points and eight rebounds, and freshman forward Jaryn Taylor, who also tallied eight points.

The Lancers opened the tourney Friday with a 59-55 win over Cerritos. Sophomore guard Jonathan Henderson scored 20 points, including four 3-point bombs while Tuff added 12 points and five boards. Langston scored nine and Williams eight. Letterman center Faruk Oyalade chipped in seven rebounds and four points.

Host Sequoias handed PCC a 75-58 defeat in the championship semifinals Saturday. Taylor scored 15 off the bench while Williams had 11 points. Tuff pulled down 11 rebounds to go with seven points.

Coach Michael Swanegan’s Lancers resume play on December 28-30 when they play in the round-robin Imperial Valley Tournament. PCC opens with a 4 p.m. game on Sunday, Dec. 28 against San Diego Miramar.