Each time the Cerritos College men's basketball team saw their lead against Compton College slipping away, they were able to respond with a clutch shot. The end results was an 86-83 South Coast Conference South Division win over the visiting Tartars on Wednesday night. The Falcons (12-7, 1-0), winners of three in a row, will host Los Angeles Harbor College at 7:00 p.m. on Friday in another divisional game.

Cerritos opened an 81-71 lead with 3:42 left in the game after a pair of free throws from sophomore Darron Henry (Long Beach Poly HS) and a layup by sophomore Marcel Hayes (Long Beach Poly HS). By the time their was a minute left in regulation, Cerritos had turned the ball over and saw their lead dwindle to 84-80. The Falcons then turned the ball over on their next possession, but the Tartars couldn't convert when Hayes blocked Jordan English as he went up for a layup. Pushing the ball back down the court, sophomore Dillon Botts (Mayfair HS) fed sophomore Spencer Ezewiro (Paramount HS/Moberly Area, MO CC), who dunked the ball for an 86-80 lead with 14 seconds left.

Compton knocked down a three-pointer to get to within three points and even had the last shot of the game after Cerritos turned ball over once again throwing the ball downcourt. English got off a good look from 30 feet away, but his shot went off the rim.

At points in the game, the Falcons were firing on all cylinders, with sophomore Andrew Mata (Schurr HS/Holy Cross, IN College) connecting on all five of his three-pointers on the night and went 6-for-6 from the field for 17 points off the bench. Also coming off the bench, Hayes added an immediate spark off the bench and contributed 22 points (four three-pointers) to go along with his four rebounds and three assists.

The Falcons connected on eight of their 13 three-pointers in the first half, with Henry leading the way with 26 points (three three-pointers) and added six assists and five steals. Ezewiro led Cerritos with 12 rebounds, with Botts posting six assists and five rebounds. Sophomore Blake Brewer (Orange Lutheran HS) finished with seven points and seven rebounds.

Photos by Daryl Peterson