Bulldogs Begin Holiday Classic Title Defense With Come-From-Behind Win Over Chabot

A 13-0 run down the stretch helped the Allan Hancock College men's basketball team erase a four-point deficit in a 71-66 come-from-behind win over Chabot to open the 53rd annual Holiday Classic on Thursday evening inside Joe White Memorial Gymnasium. The Bulldogs improved to 9-5, while Chabot fell to 1-11. The Bulldogs, who are the defending tournament champions, advanced to Friday's championship semifinals. At 7 p.m., the Bulldogs will face Merritt, which knocked off L.A. Southwest in the first round.

A DJ Searcy layup gave Hancock a 55-43 lead with 12:15 to play. However, Chabot went on a 16-0 run over the next seven minutes to build a 59-55 lead. Three-point buckets from Shane Carney and Javae Lampkins helped to fuel the Bulldog comeback.

Spirit Ricks led the Bulldogs with 14 points, 13 came in the first half when the Bulldogs carried a 41-26 lead into intermission. Ricks went 6-for-9 from the field and pulled down a team-best 10 rebounds for his fourth double-double of the season. Carney went 4-for-13 from the field overall and 2-for-8 from 3-point range to finish with 13 points. The sophomore added five rebounds, five assists, and made 3-of-4 from the free-throw line.

Glenn Jordan came off the bench to finish with nine points, five assists and three rebounds. The freshman hit 7-of-10 from the free-throw line. Trenton Mitchell, a freshman forward, added nine points for the Bulldogs. Freshman guard Diego Luca added four steals, two assists and five points for the Bulldogs. John Riddick made his presence felt in the paint and blocked four shots.

Hancock shot 42 percent from the field by sinking 25 of its 59 shots. The Bulldogs went 5-for-17 from 3-point range, and sank 16-of-28 free throw attempts for a 57 percent mark.

Chabot shot 46 percent overall, and hit 8-of-18 (44 percent) from 3-point range. Chabot struggled at the free-throw line and sank just 42 percent of its 19 free throws. Stephen Northington led Chabot with 17 points and eight rebounds.

Earlier in the day, Cuesta knocked off Bakersfield 76-68. The Cougars (8-8) outscored the Renegades (6-5) 42-30 in the second half to erase a four-point deficit at the half. Finn Whetstone led the Cougars with 28 points, while Noah Saunders finished with 23 points and 11 rebounds to secure a double-double. Tucker Eenigenburg led the Renegades with 29 points, while Shadadah Camp added 22.

Cuesta will face Palomar at 5 p.m. in the championship semifinals on Friday. Palomar (9-5) routed San Jose (3-9) 76-47 in the first round. Bakersfield will face San Jose at 1 p.m. on Friday, while Chabot will play LA Southwest at 3 p.m.