Still in the Title Hunt, Men's Basketball Travels to Santa Barbara Wednesday

Still in the Title Hunt, Men's Basketball Travels to Santa Barbara Wednesday
February 17, 2015

The men's basketball team enters the week still in the hunt for the Western State Conference title. The Bulldogs start the week 7-3 in conference and 12-12 overall. Hancock is one-game behind first place Cuesta (9-2) in the loss column, and one-win behind second place LA Pierce (8-3). Cuesta plays its final conference game on Wednesday at Moorpark (6-4), while Pierce plays at Santa Barbara (0-10) on Saturday.

The Bulldogs are coming off a thrilling 57-56 home win over Pierce. Sophomore guard Andre Miller converted a three-point play with less than two minutes to play that proved to be the difference. The Brahmas missed two chances to hit the go-ahead shot in the final 90 seconds. Miller led the Bulldogs with 15 points, while freshman guard Matt Willkomm, an Arroyo Grande High School, graduate added 11.

Hancock plays at last place Santa Barbara (0-10, 4-18) on Wednesday, Feb. 18, before closing the regular season at home on Saturday, Feb. 21, against Oxnard at 3 p.m. Paced by a 50-14 advantage in the second half, Hancock routed SBCC last month 83-43. Arinze Anakwenze and Lawrence Johnson scored 17 points apiece, while Miller added 15 and Willkomm scored 14 in the win. The Bulldogs also defeated Oxnard 73-60 last month on the road behind a career-high 26 points and seven three-point buckets from Willkomm.

With two wins and a Cuesta loss, Hancock has an opportunity for a share of its first conference title since 2010-11.