Vikings Defeat Cypress Chargers 78-66 in Home Opener

Photo by Jocelyn Gonzalez.
Photo by Jocelyn Gonzalez.

The men's basketball team opened their 2017-18 campaign with their first home game win against the Cypress Chargers 78-66. The Vikings now tally two wins under their belt, after going 1-2 in the Santa Ana Tournament over the weekend.

The Vikings took the lead early on and held onto it throughout the game. Sophomore guard William English, from Milikan High School, came out strong and opened the first half by throwing in the first bucket to put Long Beach on the board. English led the team in the first half with 11 points and one rebound. Sophomore guard Isaiah Keyes, from Poly High School, and sophomore guard Mark Neal Jr. were next in line offensively with six points each.

 On the defensive side, Neal Jr. and sophomore guard Robert Willis Jr. crashed the glass with two defensive rebounds each.

In the second half, the Vikings had their largest lead by 18 points.  Keyes was the first to knock in a three pointer of the second half. English then put up 12 more points, totaling 23 for the game with three rebounds.

In the last five minutes of the game, the Chargers started to gain an offensive momentum, but the Vikings were quick to dissolve it by nailing seven free throws at the end of the game to keep the lead and seal the 78-66 win.

In total, freshman forward Artis Parris led the team with five rebounds, freshman guard Jeremiah Sadler led with three assists and freshman guard Jamiu Akinbile worked tirelessly on defense with three steals. The Vikings outshot the Chargers in field goals and in second chance points.

Long Beach City College men's basketball will play again in their second home game of the 2017-18 season on Thursday, Nov. 9 against Santa Ana College.