For the first time since the 2017-18 season, the Cerritos College men's basketball has qualified for the 3C2A State Tournament, as they defeated East Los Angeles College, 71-69 on Saturday night. The Falcons (23-8), seeded #11, knocked off the #3-seeded Huskies (27-3) for the second time this season.

The Falcons will open the state tournament on Thursday at Mt. San Antonio College, with their opponent yet to be determined.

Cerritos opened an eight-point first half lead (20-12), thanks in part to three-pointers from sophomores Dillon Botts (Mayfair HS) and Marcel Hayes (Long Beach Poly HS). However, the Huskies went on a 14-0 run over the next 4:02 and went into halftime with a 40-34 advantage.

Not wavering from their deficit, the Falcons responded with every East LA run with one of their own. Trailing by as many as 10 points (44-34) early in the second half, they closed to within 48-44 after a three-pointer from Botts with 12:00 left in the second half. The teams traded three-pointers down the stretch, and when Botts knocked down another long distance jumper, Cerritos took a 62-60 lead with 3:20 remaining.

Sophomore Darron Henry (Long Beach Poly HS) made it a 65-60 lead after a steal and three-pointer with 3:05 on the clock. The Huskies closed it to 65-60 before a Botts layup and a basket from freshman Derek Curry (Lawndale HS) increased the lead to 69-62. Henry tried to connect once again from three-point range, but his miss was rebounded by the versatile Botts, who was fouled with :13 seconds left and a 69-64 lead.

Coming out of a timeout, the Falcons turned the ball over, with the Huskies responding with a basket to close the lead to 69-66 with 6.9 seconds remaining. With two fouled to give, the Huskies fouled twice quickly, with the third foul, it sent Henry to the free throw line, where he drained both. East LA knocked down a late three-pointer by Daniel Michelini-Jackson.

Cerritos was able to run out the remainder of the clock to secure the win.

The Falcons had a balanced scoring attack, as four of the starters scored in double figures. Henry led the team with 19 points, six assists, five rebounds and three steals, with Botts contributing, five rebounds and four assists to go along with his four three-pointers. Sophomore Spencer Ezewiro (Paramount HS/Moberly Area, MO CC) contributed 15 points, 12 rebounds and four assists before fouling out. Hayes added 11 points and seven rebounds.

Photo courtesy of Alyssa Olveda