Men's Basketball Sinks Pirates on Sophomore Day, 77-56

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - The Allan Hancock College men's basketball team delivered an impressive all-around performance on their home court, securing a dominant 77-56 win over Ventura College in a key conference matchup in the regular season finale on Wednesday evening. | BOX SCORE

Prior to the game, the Bulldogs honored a group of five sophomores who competed for the final time in an AHC uniform. The group of honorees included River Ortiz, Elijah Allen, Ay-Keen Richardson, and Yash Patel. 

The Bulldogs (19-9, 9-3 WSC) established control from the opening jump with relentless defense and efficient offense, surging to a 40-21 halftime lead before cruising to victory in the second half. Hancock's offensive efficiency was a major factor, as they shot 44.8% from the field, including an impressive 37.5% from beyond the arc. The home squad's depth was on display, with 27 bench points contributing to the commanding win.

AHC's defense stifled the visiting Pirates (11-16, 4-7 WSC) throughout the contest, forcing 15 turnovers and limiting them to just 32.7% shooting from the field. Coach Aye's crew also owned the glass, outrebounding Ventura 50-26, which led to 15 second-chance points.

Trenten Lavender led the way for the Bulldogs with 15 points and a trio of three-pointers, Owen Ubaldo added 14 points and five rebounds. Ortiz also made a strong impact, tallying 11 points on 4-of-7 shooting. TJ Hollinger pulled down a team-best of eight rebounds while Noah Morris and Jordan Kamga each snagged six. 

The Bulldogs will now wait until the bracket is revealed for the 3C2A Men's Basketball Championship to find out their playoff fate. The seeding meeting is scheduled to take place on Sunday, February 23rd, to set the playoff field with the official announcement to follow that evening or the next day.

Stay connected with Bulldogs Athletics on social media! Follow us on Facebook, X, & Instagram. To enroll in our athletics text/email alert system, please click here.