Coming off a week-long break, the Cerritos College men's basketball team returned home to post a 69-61 win over Los Angeles Pierce College on Saturday afternoon. The Falcons (8-6), who snapped a three-game losing skid, returns home next Friday at 5:00 p.m. to take on Los Angeles City College.

Against the Brahmas (7-8), Cerritos opened up a 24-14 first half lead after sophomore Spencer Ezewiro (Paramount HS/Moberly Area, MO CC) knocked down a pair of free throws. LA Pierce closed the lead to 33-26 by intermission, but an three-point play from Ezewiro to open the second half returned that lead to 10 points at 36-26.

Consecutive three-pointers from sophomores Darron Henry (Long Beach Poly HS) and Gavin Carothers-Vukasovic (Cerritos HS) held the Brahmas at bay to maintain a four-point lead until LA Pierce tied the game at 49-49 with 9:19 remaining after a three-pointer from Armon Cole.

A scoreless spell of 6:03 by LA Pierce allowed the Falcons to open a 62-49 lead - their largest of the game - with Henry and sophomore Jordun Willard (Paramount HS) each producing four points during the 13-0 streak. The lead never got lower than eight points, as Cerritos closed out the victory.

Henry led all scorers with 20 points, while adding five assists, five rebounds and four steals, with Ezewiro finishing with 11 points and eight caroms. The bench received eight points and three rebounds from freshman Lucas Smith (Blaine, WA HS), with the tandem of Carothers-Vukasovic and Willard each scoring seven points and combined for eight rebounds. Sophomore Dillon Botts (Mayfair HS) turned in nine points and nine rebounds from his guard position.

Photos by Daryl Peterson