M. Basketball: Offense continues to run up big numbers

File Photo: Dezmon Murphy (grabbing rebound) scored a team-high 16 points against LA Southwest
File Photo: Dezmon Murphy (grabbing rebound) scored a team-high 16 points against LA Southwest

Since the start of South Coast Conference South Division play, the Cerritos College men's basketball has won their four games by an average of 29 points. The Falcons (17-5, 4-0) recorded their fourth straight 90-point win after a 95-61 decision over host Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday. The team will play their next two games at home, starting with a 5:00 p.m. contest next Wednesday against Los Angeles Harbor College.

It was only a five-point lead (41-36) at halftime against the Cougars (8-14, 2-2), but Cerritos scored the first 16 points to start the second half to begin their road to victory. During the 5:08 span they kept LA Southwest off the board at the start of the half, the Falcons converted 6-of-9 shots, with sophomore Dezmon Murphy (La Mirada HS) accounting for six of those points. Sophomore Cody Wilkes (La Mirada HS) also connected on a three-pointer.

The lead hovered around 20 points for most of the second half, until they extended it to a 30-point advantage. As a result, a trio of players came off the bench to score in double-figures, while that group made 22-of-37 field goals, with freshman Jeremiah Galang (Narbonne HS) hitting four three-pointers and finished with 14 points along with three rebounds. Sophomore Tawon Elston (Roosevelt HS) added three baskets from long range and ended with 13 points and four assists, while freshman Daelyn Bams (Villa Park HS) scored 12 points on the inside, while adding six rebounds and three blocked shots.

Murphy paced the team with 16 points, along with seven rebounds and five assists, while the fast-break offense allowed sophomore Jamal Heckard (Carson HS/El Camino College) to dish out 10 assists and add five rebounds. As a team, the Falcons out-rebounded LA Southwest, 43-28, with sophomore Darryl McMillon, Jr. (View Park Prep HS) adding nine points and six rebounds off the bench.