Sophomore guard Ashton Edwards (pictured) posted a double-double with 19 points and 10 assists and the Vikings got other outstanding individual efforts but couldn't put it together in a 78-70 South Coast Conference loss to visiting Mt. San Antonio College on Friday night at the LBCC Hall of Champions Gym.
The loss snapped the Vikings' modest two-game winning streak and dropped their record to 7-13 overall and 2-4 in the SCC while the No. 6 state-ranked Mounties improved to 18-2 and 5-1 in conference play.
Long Beach had a rough first half shooting, making just 9 of 33 shots while Mt. SAC was able to take advantage of its rebounding and transition game to get numerous fastbreak runs down court.
A 7-0 run by Mt. SAC midway in the half gave the Mounties a 29-17 lead before taking a 40-28 lead into the break.
But Long Beach finally came alive late in the second. Trailing 68-50, the Vikings tore off a 9-0 run, including a three-pointer by freshman Carlos Sanchez, to get within nine points at 68-59 with 2:42 left in the game.
Mt. SAC's Hakeem Nance broke the streak with a deep three-pointer of his own, but the Vikings put together one last push. Down 73-61, Sanchez sank back-to-back three pointers to get LBCC within seven points (74-67) with 34 seconds to go.
Long Beach would get no closer as the Mounties sank 5 of 8 free throws over the final minute to seal the road victory.
Sanchez posted 18 points for the Vikings off of 6 of 9 shooting from three-point range. Freshman Rueben Strickland added 17 points and eight rebounds while sophomore Tyler Tuliau had eight points and five rebounds.
Mt. SAC got a game-high 23 points from Corey Allen and Garrett Nevels had a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds.
Long Beach returns to action on Wednesday (Jan. 30) at 7 p.m. when it travels to face Pasadena City College in a SCC game.
Photo by John Fajardo
