Staton leads LBCC to fourth straight win, Vikings beat Harbor 99-80

Freshman Brandon Staton scored a game-high 22 points in LBCC's win over LA Harbor. (Photo by John Fajardo)
Freshman Brandon Staton scored a game-high 22 points in LBCC's win over LA Harbor. (Photo by John Fajardo)

Freshman guard Brandon Staton (Poly HS) scored a game-high 22 points and grabbed seven rebounds to help lead the Long Beach City College men's basketball team to a 99-80 South Coast Conference South Division win over visiting Los Angeles Harbor College on Friday at the LBCC Hall of Champions Gym.

Long Beach has now won four straight games , including seven of its last nine, to improve to 10-6 overall and 2-0 in the SCC South. The Vikings handed Harbor (12-4, 1-1 SCC) just their fourth loss of the season. The Seahawks entered the contest ranked No. 11 in Southern California.

Long Beach stormed out to an 11-1 lead and never looked back. The Vikings led 50-28 at the break as Harbor made just 7 of 26 shots during the first half.

Five different Vikings scored in double figures. Following Staton's 22 points, sophomore Kristien Owens (Wilson HS) came off the bench to score 17 points to go with five assists. Sophomore guard Carlos Sanchez (Magnolia HS) added 14 points, while freshmen Elijah Gaines (San Pedro HS) and Chris Spencer (Jordan HS) both had 13 points. Sophomore Mwelu Mataya (Redondo Union HS) also had a good game underneath, posting a team-high 11 rebounds, five assists, and three blocks.

Kenneth Greene led Harbor with 17 points while Elliott Morris had 13 points and five rebounds.

Long Beach returns to action on Wednesday (Jan 15) at 5 p.m. when it hosts cross-town rival Cerritos College in a SCC South game.