Willkomm Scores 18, White Records Double-Double as Hancock Opens Conference with 73-50 Win Over Moorpark

Matt Wilkomm scored 18 points and Lavell White recorded a double-double to lead a trio of Bulldogs in double figures as the Allan Hancock College men's basketball team opened conference play with a 73-50 win over Moorpark on Wednesday night in Joe White Memorial Gymnasium. The Bulldogs snapped a four-game skid and improved to 6-9 overall and 1-0 in Western State Conference action. The Raiders fell to 8-8 overall and 0-1 in conference.

The Bulldogs led from start to finish and stormed out to a 20-6 lead after Kadeem Minor hit a three-pointer with 11:42 to go in the first half. Seven Bulldogs scored during that 8:18 stretch. Hancock shot 41 percent in the first half and limited the Raiders to 23 percent shooting as the Bulldogs led 34-20 at intermission.

Hancock dominated the first 15 minutes of the second half. Ali Mohammed made back-to-back buckets, followed by a jumper from Arinze Anakwenze as the Bulldogs went on a 27-14 lead to start the second half. Hancock led by as many as 31 points in the second half before cruising to a 23-point victory.

Willkomm, a freshman guard, hit four of seven from three-point range and seven of 12 overall from the field. The Arroyo Grande High School graduate tied a career-high with 18 points. Lawrence Johnson added 13 points, four rebounds and four assists. The sophomore hit three of six from long range. White added 11 points and 10 rebounds for his second straight double-double. He had 24 points and 12 boards against San Jose City College.

Shamel Williams came off the bench to score nine points, while Ali Mohammed added eight points, and Minor finished with seven points, four rebounds and four assists. Anakwenze added seven points and three blocked shots. Andre Miller added six rebounds, three assists and four steals.

Overall, Hancock made 30 of its 68 shots for a 44 percent c lip. The Bulldogs made nine of 24 from three-point range for a 37.5 percent effort. The Bulldogs pulled down 35 rebounds and tallied 20 assists and 11 steals. Hancock turned the ball over just six times and forced 16 Raider turnovers.

Hancock's defense held Moorpark to 30 percent shooting from the field (19-62). The Raiders finished with 39 rebounds. Jeremiah Gray led the Raiders with 15 points. Shaquille Moore added 10 points and a team-best nine rebounds.

The Bulldogs avenged a preseason loss to the Raiders. Hancock fell 68-62 to the Raiders at the El Camino Tournament in November.

Hancock returns to action on Saturday, Jan.10, at 5 p.m. at Cuesta College.