Anakwenze, Minor and Johnson Lead Bulldogs to 71-56 Win Over Ventura, Hancock Remains Undefeated in Conference

Fueled by a spirited crowd of fellow student-athletes in the stands, the Allan Hancock College men's basketball team used a dominant second half to defeat visiting Ventura College 71-56 on Wednesday evening in Joe White Memorial Gymnasium. The Bulldogs stayed perfect in Western State Conference play and improved to 3-0 in league and 8-9 overall. Ventura dropped to 0-2 in conference and 7-11 for the season.

Kadeem Minor and Arinze Anakwenze scored 16 points apiece, while Lawrence Johnson added 15 points, and Andre Miller poured in 10 for the Bulldogs. Matt Willkomm added nine points. 

Hancock carried a 30-28 lead into halftime thanks to 52 percent shooting from the floor. The Bulldogs made 12 of their 18 shots from the floor in the second half, a blistering 66.7 percent clip, to finish at 58.5 percent for the game (24 for 41). Hancock outscored Ventura 41-28 in the final 20 minutes and led by as many as 17 points with less than two minutes to play.

The Bulldogs were four of 10 from three-point range and 19 for 26 (73%) from the free throw line. The Hancock defense limited Ventura to 29 percent shooting in the second half and 36 percent for the game (21 for 58).

Playing with just seven men in uniform, the Bulldogs sprinted out to a 13-2 lead barely four minutes into the game behind six points from Anakwenze. The freshman made six of seven shots from the floor to finish with a career-high 16 points. His previous career-best was 11 points. The forward also blocked five shots, each of which electrified the student-athletes in the crowd.

Minor was five for nine from the floor and five for eight from the free throw line. He added a team-best seven rebounds. Miller added five rebounds, two assists and three steals. He was seven for eight from the charity stripe. Johnson was seven for 11 from the floor and dished out four assists. Shamel Williams added five points, five rebounds and three steals.

Ventura was led by Vondel Faniel, who scored 14 points and pulled down 10 rebounds for a double-double. Jamal Lewis and Toure Atwater added 11 points each.

Hancock returns to action next Wednesday, Jan. 21, at L.A. Pierce. Tip off is set for 5 p.m.