Bulldogs Outlast Bakersfield, 70-69

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - The Allan Hancock College men's basketball program outlasted Bakersfield through a gritty 40 minutes of play that came down to the wire inside of the Joe White Memorial Gymnasium on Thursday evening. 

The Bulldogs overcame a ten point deficit late in the opening frame and held a slim 31-27 advantage at the intermission. The second half of play featured a back-and-forth battle where neither team led by more than two buckets. The Renegades held a one-point lead as time ticked off the clock, but Tasson Aubry-Thomas netted the game-winning layup with 2.6 seconds remaining to give AHC the victory.

Aubry-Thomas led a balanced offensive attack by the Bulldogs, which featured five double-digit scorers, by providing 16 points off the bench after going 6-for-8 from the floor and 3-for-4 from the charity stripe. Kainoa Keuma also lifted the squad from the sidelines after notching 15 points while Caleb Whalen tacked on 11. Amari Stroud and Ryan Cartaino rounded out the scoring quintet with 10 points each. Stroud also secured his first double-double of the season after grabbing 13 rebounds.

Both teams hovered around 40 percent production from the field and finished tied 42-42 on the glass, but an efficient 78.3 percent showing from the free throw line helped Allan Hancock (1-1) secure the victory. A productive bench proved to be a major factor as the reserves for the Bulldogs outscored the Bakersfield (0-1) sideline 33-15.

AHC is scheduled to return to action on Friday, March 12, with a return contest at Bakersfield. Tip-off is set for 6 PM in Bakersfield, Calif. Spectators will not be permitted at the event, but fans can watch the contest online by clicking here.