Rhodes' 31 Points Lead Bulldogs To Thrilling 88-85 Win Over Sequoias At Cuesta Tournament

Malik Rhodes scored a game-high 31 points and Matt Willkomm poured in 14 points to lead the Allan Hancock College men's basketball team to a thrilling 88-85 overtime win over College of the Sequoias on Friday to open a tournament hosted by Cuesta College.

Rhodes, a freshman guard, made seven of his 12 shots from the field, but buried 15 of his 16 free throw attempts for the Bulldogs. He added six rebounds and five assists in the victory. He scored 18 points in the second half, including all nine of his free throw shots to help Hancock erase a 37-31 halftime deficit.

Willkomm hit three of seven from three-point range and five of 13 overall to finish with 14 points, four rebounds and two assists. Freshman guard Shane Carney added eight points and six rebounds. 

The game was tied at 73-73 at the end of regulation. Freshman forward Tim Ford scored six of his seven points in overtime to help the Bulldogs outscore Sequoias 15-12 in the extra period. Ford also pulled down a team-high nine rebounds.

Overall, Hancock made 26 of its 53 shots from the floor for a 49 percent mark, and shot nine for 24 from three-point range, which was 37.5 percent. Hancock also sank 27 of its 33 free throw shots for an 82 percent clip.

The Bulldogs held the edge in rebounds 37 to 30, but committed 19 turnovers compared to 10 miscues by Sequoias.

Dida Pereira led the Giants with 26 points and five rebounds before he fouled out of the game. Sequoias made 30 of 76 shots overall, which equated to 39.5 percent, and sank nine of its 34 three-point shots or 26.5 percent.

The Bulldogs advanced into the championship semifinals. They will play on Saturday at 5 p.m. against Saddleback, the defending state champion and top ranked team in the state.