Despite 20 from Carney and 17 from Willkomm, Hancock Falls 86-75 to No. 13 Bakersfield to Close Holiday Classic

Shane Carney scored 20 points and Matt Willkomm poured in 17 to lead four Bulldogs in double figures, but the Allan Hancock College men's basketball team lost to Bakersfield 86-75 to close out the 51^st annual Holiday Classic on Wednesday evening. The Bulldogs dropped to 8-9 overall, while the Renegades, the 13^th ranked team in California, improved to 2-1 on the week and 10-3 overall.

Bakersfield led from start to finish. The Renegades scored the first five points of the game and built a 14-2 lead within the first six minutes. The Bulldogs settled down and climbed to within two points in the first half. Bakersfield took an 86-75 lead into halftime. Willkomm and Carney scored 11 points apiece in the first half for the Bulldogs.

Hancock stayed within striking distance for most of the second half. Tim Ford's rebound and put back pulled Hancock to within four points at 71-67 with 3:54 to play. However, the Renegades went on an 8-0 run to pull away and seal the victory.

Carney hit seven of his 15 shots from the floor, including three of five from three-point range to finish with 20 points. WIllkomm made six of 14 overall, and two of his seven from three-point territory. Malik Rhodes and Marcellus Garrick scored 13 points apiece. Ford finished with six points and a team-high 11 rebounds.

Hancock shot 49 percent in the game (26 for 53) and hit nine of 18 from three-point range. The Bulldogs sank 14 of their 15 free throws or 93 percent.

Bakersfield hit 57 percent of its shots (34 for 60) from the floor and 58 percent of its free throws (14 for 24).

Deandre Dickson led Bakersfield with 25 points and 14 rebounds. Jameik Riviere finished with 16 points, while Lawrence Moore added 15 points, six assists and four steals.

Also on Wednesday, Cerritos (9-7) defeated Rio Hondo (7-12) by a score of 65-50. Leo Maidana finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds for Rio Hondo, while Elvis Okafor also recorded a double-double for Cerritos with 10 points and 11 boards. Cerritos finished its stay at the Holiday Classic with a 1-2 mark. Rio Hondo went 0-3.

Fresno, the 14^th ranked team in the state, won its ninth straight game with a thrilling 82=81 come-from-behind victory over No. 17 Cuesta College. The Rams defeated the Cougars for the second time in as many weeks and completed a 3-0 run at the Classic and 14-5 on the season. Cuesta finished 2-1 in the three-day event and dropped to 13-6 overall.

Cuesta led by six points with less than four minutes to play before Fresno began its comeback. BJ Shelton led the Rams with 30 points, including the two game-winning free throws with five seconds to play. He was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. Will Dorsey added 17 points for Fresno.

Andre Aguado led the Cougars with 18 points and Roberto Mantovani added 17 points and 11 rebounds. Aguado earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team.

The Holiday Classic completes the preseason schedule for the Bulldogs. Hancock opens defense of its Western State Conference – North Division title next Wednesday, January 6, at 7 p.m. at home against Santa Barbara City College.