SBCC got off to a super start in its men’s basketball home opener on Thursday, building a 31-17 lead on Richard Somdah’s offensive rebound and 10-foot jumper with 5:12 to go in the first half.
After leading 38-28 at intermission, the Vaqueros faltered in the second half, hitting just 27.5 percent from the field and 1-of-14 from long range on the way to a 70-62 first-round loss to West L.A. in the 38th annual SBCC Classic.
“It was our inability to finish some point-blank shots,” said coach Morris Hodges. “We must have missed 10 easy shots in the second half. We did the job defensively and we got 20 more shot attempts.
“We had some untimely turnovers that led to easy runouts for them.”
The Vaqueros (3-8) committed 23 turnovers, leading to 28 points for the Wildcats (4-4).
Richard Somdah topped SBCC with 17 points while Tony Hawley had a double-double (12 points, 11 rebounds) and Chris Vines scored 10 with nine rebounds.
De Andre Davis led West L.A. by scoring 18 of his game-high 23 points in the second half, including 4-5 shooting from the 3-point line. West L.A. hit 50 percent of its shots after halftime (15-30) and 5-9 from downtown.
In other first-round games, Cypress edged Hancock 81-77, L.A. Valley rallied for a 63-59 decision over Victor Valley and Oxnard topped defending champion Barstow 86-76.
SBCC will take on Hancock at 5 p.m. on Friday, following the 3 p.m. opener between Victor Valley and Barstow. The championship semifinals will pit West L.A. against Cypress at 7 p.m. and L.A. Valley vs. Oxnard at 9.
Malik Bradley gave Santa Barbara a 51-43 lead on a 10-foot leaner with 13 minutes to play. The Wildcats tied the game at 55 after a 12-4 run, fueled by eight points from Davis.
Christian Wyms put the visitors ahead to stay at 63-60 with a 3-pointer at the 4:37 mark.
The Vaqueros were still within three at 65-62 with 1:20 remaining but misfired on their last seven 3-pointers.
