Evan Tillman and Tejon Williams combined for 22 second-half points on Saturday, leading SBCC to a 79-61 men’s basketball win over L.A. Southwest in the consolation semifinals of the Grossmont Invitational in El Cajon.
Tillman, a 6-8 freshman from Sacramento, posted season highs of 18 points and eight rebounds. He hit 7-of-10 from the field and collected 12 points and six boards in the second half. Williams, a 6-1 guard from Lancaster, had 14 points, nine rebounds and five assists.
The Vaqueros (2-5) broke open a tight game with a 16-9 run to end the first half. Freshman guard Adrian Humphrey (14 points, 5 rebounds) scored 12 in the opening half as the Vaqueros built a 43-34 lead.
Christian Carson topped the Cougars (0-8) with 15 points.
Santa Barbara won the shooting battle, 44.4 to 35.2 percent. The Vaqueros made 13-15 free throws and only had nine turnovers. Southwest shot 64 percent (18-28) from the foul line and committed 16 turnovers.
SBCC led 27-25 with seven minutes to go in the opening half. Robert Hutchins hit a jumper and Williams added a tip-in to ignite a 9-3 burst that made it 36-28. Hutchins, a freshman guard from Bismarck, N.D., scored nine of his season-best 13 points in the first 20 minutes.
The Vaqueros started the second half with a 14-4 advantage and took their biggest lead of the game, 57-38, on two free throws by Williams with 14:28 remaining.
The Vaqueros will take on WSC North rival Cuesta for the consolation title on Sunday at 1 p.m. Cuesta walloped West L.A. 94-52 on Saturday.
