Hancock Ready to Make Run in Postseason, Plays at No. 7 Fullerton Friday

Hancock Ready to Make Run in Postseason, Plays at No. 7 Fullerton Friday
February 22, 2018

The Allan Hancock College men's basketball team will play its first postseason game in four seasons on Friday, Feb. 23. Hancock, seeded No. 10 in the California Community College Athletic Association (CCCAA) Southern Regional, plays at No. 7 Fullerton at 7 p.m. in a second round game. The college will provide a live webcast through its athletics website. To view the live stream, click here. Hancock will look to end a five-game losing skid in the postseason and win their first postseason game since defeating Irvine Valley in 2001.

"We just need to keep doing what we've been doing all season long and that's trusting each other and playing solid and smart basketball on both ends of the court," said Tyson Aye, Hancock's fifth-year head coach. "Our guys have bought into our program and each other all season and it is paying off."

The Bulldogs finished second in the Western State Conference standings at 8-2 and 21-9 overall. This season, the Bulldogs reached the 20-win mark for the first time in five years and won the most games in a single-season since taking 23 games in 2000-01.

Fullerton finished second in the Orange Empire Conference at 9-3 and 20-7 overall. Sophomore guard Jason Richardson is the team's leading scorer at 18.4 points per game, followed by guard Khalil Stevenson at 10.1 points, center Ronne Readus at 9.4 and Vaj Rice at 9.0 points.

Hancock and Fullerton have four common opponents this season: East Los Angeles, Cuesta, West Hills Coalinga and Pasadena City. Both teams lost to East L.A. ad defeated Pasadena City College and Cuesta. Hancock defeated West Hills 79-68, but Fullerton lost 85-72.

The last time Hancock and Fullerton played was during the season-opening Cuesta Tournament in November 2015. Hancock lost to the Hornets 70-51.

The winner advances to the regional quarterfinals to play at either No. 2 San Bernardino Valley (26-4) or host No. 18 Antelope Valley (17-14).  Antelope Valley came from behind to win at Cuesta in Wednesday's first round.