Sophomore Rolland Pearsall scored a team-high 17 points while freshmen Justin Richardson and Jeremiah Blandin both posted double-doubles in a narrow 60-58 South Coast Conference interdivision loss to visiting El Camino College Compton Center on Wednesday at the LBCC Hall of Champions Gym.
The defeat was the Vikings' second straight and dropped their overall record to 8-9.
Long Beach led 37-29 at halftime but couldn't hold off a late surge by the Tartars over the final minutes.
Down by seven at the break, Compton's Michael Chavers scored the Tartars first nine points of the second half as Compton outscored LBCC 11-4 to get within one point at 41-40 at the 15-minute mark.
Compton went on to tie up the game at 48-48 and jumped out in front of Long Beach 53-50 after a layup by Chavers with 5:51 to play. The Vikings responded with consecutive baskets by Richardson and Pearsall to retake the lead 54-53.
Chavers' free throw at 2:07 tied the game before Calvin House's layup put Compton out in front for good with 1:20 left in the game.
Blandin scored with 15 seconds left and as time expired, but it wasn't enough for the Vikings. He led LBCC with 12 rebounds to go with 10 points. Richardson scored 12 points, had 10 rebounds, and totaled five blocks.
Chavers led Compton (9-8) with 27 points and 12 rebounds.
Long Beach returns to action on Friday (Jan. 15) when the Vikings travel to Mt. San Antonio College for a 7 p.m. SCC interdivision game.
