First Place Bulldogs Head To L.A. Pierce for WSC Showdown

Off to a perfect 3-0 start in conference action, the men's basketball team returns to action on Wednesday, Jan. 21, at L.A. Pierce in a Western State Conference showdown. The Bulldogs are 8-9 overall, while the Brahmas are 11-10 overall and 3-1 in conference.  Hancock holds a half-game lead over both L.A. Pierce and Cuesta.

L.A. Pierce's lone conference loss was a 64-63 loss at Cuesta. The Brahmas defeated Moorpark 85-79 and Ventura 75-66 in their other two Western State Conference games.  The Brahmas have two players averaging in double-figures led by Trey Archambeau, a post player averaging 14.4 points and 5.3 points per game. Wing Devron Reynolds averages 13 points, and 3.8 rebounds per contest. Guard JR Williams runs the offense and is averaging 8.5 points, 7.2 assists, and 3.8 rebounds.

Playing "seven strong", as head coach Tyson Aye describes the squad, the Bulldogs have secured three conference wins by at least 13 points behind dominant second halves. Last Wednesday, Hancock shot 67 percent in the final 20 minutes and 59 percent overall in a 71-56 victory over Ventura. Arinze Anakwenze scored a career-high 16 points, while Kadeem Minor added 16 and seven rebounds and Lawrence Johnson finished with 15 points. Freshman guard Matt Willkomm added nine points coming off a career-best 25 point-effort in a 14-point win at Cuesta.  Willkomm ranks third in the WSC-North at 17.3 points in conference action. Johnson ranks 15^th at 11.3 points.

Overall this season, Johnson, a sophomore guard, is Hancock's leading scorer at 12 points per game, while Willkomm is second at 9.4 points.

The Bulldogs host Santa Barbara City College at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 24. The Vaqueros start the week 0-3 in conference and 4-11 overall. They've lost seven in a row headed into Wednesday's game against Ventura.