Bulldogs Crush Oxnard 102-50 to Earn Share of Conference Championship

The Bulldogs scored the first 18 points of the game as the Allan Hancock College men's basketball team cruised to a 102-50 win over Oxnard to clinch a share of the Western State Conference championship on Saturday afternoon in Joe White Memorial Gymnasium.  

Hancock finished the regular season 9-3 in conference and 14-12 overall. The Bulldogs are in a three-way tie for first with idle Cuesta and LA Pierce, which defeated Santa Barbara in its season finale. The Bulldogs earned a piece of their first conference title since the 2010-11 season and the 17^th in program history. 

Four Bulldogs scored 18 or more points in the victory. Matt Willkomm tied a career-high with 26 points. The freshman made eight of 10 shots, including two of three from three-point range. He also hit eight of nine free throws. He also scored 26 points last month against Oxnard. Shamel Williams and Kadeem Minor recorded double-doubles. Williams scored a career-high 22 points to go with 10. The sophomore hit 10 of 15 shots and added four steals.  Lawrence Johnson made seven of his 12 shots to finish with 19 points, while Minor added 18 points and a team-high 11 boards. Andre Miller enjoyed a solid all-around game with eight points, eight rebounds, five assists and a career-high eight steals.

Willkomm scored 11 points within the first four minutes to help Hancock take a 22-6 lead over Oxnard. Johnson added two three-pointers during that span. The Bulldogs shot 64 percent in the first half on 20 for 31 shooting, and made 13 of their 15 free throws in the first 20 minutes of the game. They led 57-25 at halftime behind 19 from Willkomm and 14 from Williams.

Overall, Hancock made 37 of 63 shots from the field (59 percent) and six of 15 from three-point range (40 percent). Hancock was 22 for 29 from the free throw line (76 percent). The Bulldogs forced Oxnard into 19 turnovers and finished with 17 steals. Hancock held the rebounding edge 38 to 21.

Oxnard freshman and Arroyo Grande High School graduate DeSean Scott led the Condors with 21 points. Oxnard shot 31 percent (18 for 58) overall.

The Bulldogs will learn their postseason fate on Monday when the CCCAA releases the 20-team bracket for the Southern California Regionals. Despite earning a piece of the conference title, Hancock is not guaranteed a spot in the postseason. Cuesta, by virtue of its overall record, receives the conference's automatic playoff spot. LA Pierce and Hancock will need to receive at-large berths. Hancock is looking to make its fifth straight postseason appearance.