In an intense matchup between the Long Beach City College Vikings and East Los Angeles College Huskies, the Vikings men's basketball team faced a tough 91-83 loss.

The Vikings trailed in the first half, struggling to match East Los Angeles' pace. However, an offensive surge towards the end of the half led by sophomore guard Brandon Cerda shifted the momentum. With four seconds left in the first half, Cerda tied the game at 42-42.

Cerda's stellar performance during the entire game was the highlight, as he single-handedly brought the Vikings back into contention by scoring an impressive 42 total points. Alongside Cerda, freshman guard Franklyn Chambers also made a significant scoring contribution with 17 points, amplifying Long Beach's offensive efforts. Additionally, freshmen guards Andrew Argyros and Jalen Baker displayed their skills in the rebounding department, each tallying five rebounds throughout the game.

"Our defense is coming along," said Director of Operations and Head Coach Barry Barnes. "We are a young team and use competitive games like this to prep for conference season." 

Despite the Vikings' efforts, the Huskies managed to maintain their lead and secure the 91-83 victory. The Vikings will return to the court on Wednesday, Jan. 10 against Mt. SAC at 5 p.m.