Five Vikings score in double-figures but it wasn't enough as the Long Beach City College men's basketball team suffered a narrow 90-88 South Coast Conference South Division loss to visiting Los Angeles Southwest College on Wednesday night at the Hall of Champions Gym.
The crucial loss dropped Long Beach (10-14, 7-4 SCC) two games behind L.A. Southwest (19-7, 9-2 SCC) in the SCC South Division standings with just two games left to play in the regular season.
Sophomore Raynard Tyler (Jordan HS), playing in his final home game in a Vikings uniform, led Long Beach with 23 points. But Tyler (pictured) couldn't get his biggest shot of the night to fall in, as his running jumper with five seconds remaining in the second bounced off the rim. LBCC had one more chance, but freshman Will Ervin's (Jordan HS) put-back attempt after the offensive rebound also missed, giving L.A. Southwest the win.
Long Beach shot an impressive 61 percent from the field (20 for 33) in the first half to take a 57-51 lead at halftime. But L.A. Southwest opened the second with four three-pointers and a pair of buckets to outscore Long Beach 12-4 over the first four minutes to take a 64-61 lead it wouldn't give up. LBCC's stellar shooting in the first half went also cold in the second, as the Vikings made just nine of 34 shots.
Tyler added seven rebounds and four assists to his team-high 23 points. Sophomore Jared Garber (Lakewood HS) totaled 17 points, six rebounds, and four assists, while Ervin also added 17 points and six rebounds. Freshman Tyler Tuliau (Las Vegas, NV) posted a double-double with 13 points and 12 rebounds, and freshman Kristien Owens (Wilson HS) chipped in with 10 points and eight rebounds.
Ralph Williams led L.A. Southwest with 23 points and five assists and Stephon Dafney added 18 points thanks to five three-pointers.
Long Beach closes out the regular season next week with a pair of must-win games on the road. The Vikings are at El Camino College on Wednesday (Feb 15) and L.A. Harbor College on Friday (Feb 17). Long Beach still holds on to a slim chance at a spot in the Southern California Regional Playoffs.
Photo by John Fajardo