At halftime of their game against Mt. San Jacinto College, the Cerritos College men's basketball team held a 30-23 advantage. But the second half started slowly, thanks to a shooting slump, as the Eagles pulled ahead and went on for a 64-62 win in the first game of the Riverside City Tournamennt. The Falcons (5-4) will take on the host Tigers at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday.

Through the first 7:32 of the second half, Cerritos was limited to just three points, while the Eagles (5-4) converted a trio of three-pointers and opened a 38-33 lead. By contrast, Cerritos went 1-for-9 from the field with three turnovers. 

Down by nine points (54-45) with 7:11 left, the Falcons received four free throws from sophomore Dorian Harris (Cerritos HS), followed by a layup from sophomore Jaishon Forte (Rancho Verde HS) to draw to within three points. With a chance to get to within a point in the final seconds, freshman Jalen Shores (Lakewood HS) made his first free throw, but missed the second to make it a 60-58 Eagles lead with :13 seconds remaining. The teams each converted four free throws and after freshman Garrett Bell (Sonora HS) connected on his second free throw, the Falcons fouled before the inbound pass with :04 seconds left.

Mt. San Jacinto made one free throw for a 64-62 lead and after the second miss, Cerritos was unable to get off a shot before the clock ran out.

Harris, who converted 19-of-19 free throws, led the team with 26 points and added six rebounds, while Forte finished with eight points and four rebounds. Shores and sophomore Cerroy Chenault (Warren HS) both contributed six points and combined for six assists. Sophomore Juice Belvin (St. Anthony HS) was limited to three points, but he pulled down seven rebounds to lead the team.