A Stinging Defeat
Lucas Weiss | Staff Writer
Men's basketball loses to Fullerton Hornets.
On Nov. 16, the SMC Corsairs men's basketball team faced off against the Fullerton College Hornets at Corsair Gym, losing 76-66.
At the beginning of the game, the Corsairs started off slow, scoring only three points in the first seven minutes of the game, while the Hornets knocked down a couple three’s to create a lead. Down 10, SMC started picking it up. Big man Amar Brown hit a layup in traffic, then knocked down a wide-open three a couple plays later. Guard Jay’len Carter chipped in as well with an and one on a layup and then an impressive four-point play. At the end of the first half, the Corsairs were down only five, firmly within striking distance.
Coming out of the gates in the second half, SMC played sluggishly, missing some easy layups and giving up quality threes on the defensive end. Within a few minutes, they were down 10 once again. Carter was able to briefly stem the tide, hitting an open three, and then starting center David Solomon scored a layup followed by a mid-range jump shot off of a nice jab step.
From then on, the game was neck-and-neck, with both teams fighting for the lead. With a few minutes left, guard Mike Hill gave the crowd something to cheer about, getting a dunk on the break to put the Corsairs down only two.
The Hornets didn’t let up, though, hitting a three to extend the lead. Hill answered right back, hitting a nice mid-range jump shot and then a floater, plus the foul to tie the game.
Just when it looked like SMC might take the lead, the Hornets put their foot on the gas, going on a 9-1 run, including a monster put-back dunk that sucked the momentum right out of the Corsairs, shown by their inability to make another shot the rest of the game.
When asked about his sudden hot streak at the end of the game, Hill said, “I just kind of felt it, I knew I needed to pick it up.” He also explained his thoughts when he went in for the dunks. “At first I thought he was going to cut me off going left, but he didn’t, so I saw the opportunity and dunked it,” he said.
SMC is currently 2-5 on the season, and looking to improve their record on Wednesday, Nov. 22, when they play at San Bernardino Valley College.
