Playing without standouts Chris Camper (Poly HS) and Jeremiah Blandin (Poly HS), the Long Beach City College men's basketball team suffered a 72-64 loss to visiting West Los Angeles College on Friday night at the LBCC Hall of Champions Gym.
The non-conference loss dropped Long Beach to 6-3 overall this season.
LBCC had four players score in double figures, getting a team-high 15 points from Ahmad Malone (Chicago, IL). Breamon Richard (University HS) scored 14 points, Mena Saad (West Torrance HS) added 11 points, while Justin Richardson (Firebaugh HS) posted a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds.
The Vikings led early and were up 14-8 after a jumper by Saad at the 12:55 mark in the first half. The squads exchanged leads in the opening period before West LA went into the locker room with a 33-31 halftime lead.
In the second, West LA pulled away for good. Richard's jumper at 18:08 mark tied up the contest at 35. And that was as close as the Vikings would get for the remainder of the game. An 8-0 run by the Wildcats turned a narrow 50-46 lead into a 12-point West LA advantage.
LBCC rallied late to make things interesting. Malone nailed a three-pointer with 1:41 to play to get the Vikings within three at 64-61.But Darryl Matthews made a tough shot underneath and buried a three-pointer with 28 seconds left to seal the victory for West LA.
Matthews scored a game-high 29 points and grabbed nine rebounds for West LA (6-4).
Long Beach returns to action next weekend (Dec. 17-19) when the Vikings will compete at the Saddleback College Bill Brummel Classic tournament. LBCC opens tourney play on Thursday vs. host Saddleback at 7 p.m.