Hancock Men Fall 73-66 to Canyons

Ilya Ilyayev poured in 25 points to help the College of the Canyons snap the Allan Hancock College men's basketball team's two-game winning streak 73-66 on Wednesday night in Joe White Memorial Gymnasium.

The Bulldogs dropped to 3-3 in Western State Conference play and 12-11 overall. Canyons improved to 4-2 in WSC action and 10-9 for the season.

Freshman Isaiah Hicks led the Bulldogs with 16 points to go with seven rebounds. Point guard Andre Miller added 12 points and seven assists. Josh Varney added 10 points and a team-high eight boards.

Hancock made 22 of its 46 shots for a 47.8 percent mark. The Bulldogs were 14 for 18 from the free throw line (77.8%) and hit 8 of their 21 shots from 3-point territory.

Hancock built a 20-13 lead with 10:57 to go in the first half after Hicks hit two free throws. However, Canyons rallied to carry a 35-33 lead into halftime. 

Canyons extended its lead to 64-52 with 4:49 to play in the game after Ilyayev buried a 3-pointer. Hancock cut the deficit to three at 66-63 with 1:09 to go after DJ Billingsley converted a three-point play, Miller sank a 3-point jumper, Hicks scored a layup and Kadeem Minor added another bucket.  Roman Delgado answered with a three point play to up the lead back to six points. Delgado iced the game by sinking all four of his free throw attempts in the final minute. He was a perfect 7 for 7 in the game from the line. 

Delgado finished with 15 points and David Horst added 16.  Ilyayez went 5 for 8 from 3-point range and 9 for 16 from the floor. Canyons shot 45.8 percent in the game and 33.3 percent from 3-point range. The Cougars outrebounded Hancock 27-25.

Hancock turned the ball over 20 times, while Canyons committed just 10 turnovers.

Minor added nine points and six assists for Hancock.

The Bulldogs will look to get back on track Saturday, Feb.1, at home against Moorpark. The game, which starts the second half of conference play, tips off at 5 p.m.