Double-Doubles from Willett and Bolden Lead Bulldogs to 102-91 Overtime Win to Open Holiday Classic

Nolan Willett and Troy Bolden both recorded their first double-doubles to help lead the Allan Hancock College men's basketball team to a thrilling 102-91 overtime win over Cerro Coso to open the 52^nd annual Holiday Classic on Wednesday. The Bulldogs improve to 6-9, and Cerro Coso fell to 1-7. Bolden and Willett were two of the six Bulldogs who scored in double figures.

Hancock advanced to the semifinals and will face L.A. Pierce at 7 p.m. on Thursday inside Joe White Memorial Gymnasium. The Brahmas edged San Jose 55-53 in the first round. 

Bolden scored a team-best 17 points and pulled down a career-high 11 rebounds in the victory. The freshman went 7-for-9 from the field, and drained his only 3-point attempt. He also sank both of his free throws. Bolden pulled down six offensive rebounds.

Playing for the first time in nearly three weeks due to an injury, Willett, dished out a career-best 10 assists and scored 10 points in the victory. The freshman also had three steals.

Deon Whiteside hit 5-of-11 from the floor and 5-of-9 from the free-throw line to finish with 15 points. Whiteside added five rebounds four assists and two steals.  Marcellus Garrick scored all 13 of his points in the first half on 5-for-10 shooting from the field.

Sophomore guard Kevawn Lord added 13 points, six rebounds and three steals off the bench. Lord was a perfect 10-for-10 from the foul line. Erik Kinnebrew poured in 10 points off the bench along with eight rebounds, six assists and two steals.

Overall, Hancock shot 46.5 percent (33-for-71) from the field, 28.6 percent (6-for-21) from 3-point range, and made 30 of its 43 free throws. The Bulldogs had assists on 28 of their 33 baskets, and had more steals (15) than turnovers (14).

Kainoa Matthews led Cerro Coso with 25 points.

Behind 13 points form Garrick, eight from Bolden and seven from Lord, the Bulldogs led 46-39 at halftime. Six quick points from Whiteside helped Hancock take its biggest lead of the game, 54-43, three minutes into the second half. Cerro Coso battled all the way back to lead by three points, 88-85, with less than one minutes to play. However, Whiteside hit a free throw and Kinnebrew scored a layup off a Willett steal to force overtime. Hancock went just 13-for-23 from the free-throw line in the second half. 

Other scores from the first day of action, include Cuesta defeated L.A. Southwest 79-68, and Palomar knocking off Merritt 70-62.

Thursday's schedule will be as follows:

L.A. Southwest vs. Merritt, 1 p.m. – consolation semifinal

San Jose vs. Cerro Coso, 3 p.m. – consolation semifinal

Cuesta vs. Palomar, 5 p.m. – championship semifinal

L.A. Pierce vs. Hancock, 7 p.m.  – championship semifinal