In their 90-70 non-conference win over visiting Copper Mountain College on Wednesday, the Cerritos College men's basketball team opened up a 12-0 lead to start the game. The state's #5-ranked Falcons (7-0) connected on four straight three-pointers from four different players in the first 2:46 of the game to open their lead against the Fighting Cacti (5-3). Although the lead became 21-6 at one point, Copper Mountain went on a 9-0 run to close to within six points (21-15) with 10:14 left in the first half.

Cerritos responded with a 10-2 run of their own to open up a 31-17 and prior to the end of the first half, increased it to a 20-point advantage (41-21), with sophomore Jonathan Salazar (St. John Bosco HS/New Mexico Military Institute CC) accounting for six straight points during the run.

Leading by 23 points at intermission, the Falcons had to withstand a scoring onslaught by the Fighting Cacti's Antonio Reviere, who scored the first six points of the half and at one point, was outscoring the Falcons, 12-10. The lead was just 62-50 after Larry Holmes hit a three-pointer and a short jumper with 11:25 remaining, and then an 11-point lead until a three-point play from freshman Everett May (Los Alamitos HS) brought it back to 14 points. In spite of their 59% field goal shooting and 60% three-point shooting in the second half by Copper Mountain, Cerritos was able to counter every offensive attack and turn in the 20-point victory.

Salazar posted his fifth double-double of the season, as he finished with a game-high 22 points and 10 rebounds to go along with five assists, while May added 16 points in 18 minutes of play. Salazar, May and sophomore Jalen Shores (Lakewood HS) all connected on a trio of three-pointers, with Shores posting 15 points, four rebounds and four assists. Sophomore Gorden Boykins (St. Anthony HS) played a stellar all-around game with 12 points, five rebounds and four assists, while he knocked down both of his three pointers.

Photos by Daryl Peterson