MONTEREY – The SBCC men's basketball team led by eight at the half, but couldn't keep pace over the final 20 minutes with Monterey Peninsula, falling 64-54 on day one of the Monterey Bay Classic on Thursday.
The Vaqueros are now 3-6 on the year, while the Lobos improve to 6-1.
Santa Barbara was led on the night by guard Wilfrid Nado and forward Adam Weingard, who scored 11 points each. Both players reached double-figures for the second straight game.
SBCC shot 50 percent (15-30 FG) from the field in the first half and made 3-of-8 (37.5%) from range while keeping the Lobos without a three-point basket (0-7 3FG) into the halftime break.
However, those trends flipped in the second half, when the Vaqueros shot just 20 percent and went 1-of-13 threes. The Lobos made just one three all game (1-11), but shutting SBCC's offense down over the final 20 minutes was enough as they outscored the visitors 39-21 in the second half.
Monterey Peninsula finished 15-for-26 (57.7%) from the free throw line compared to 6-for-6 for the Vaqueros.
Forward Brycyn Gossett added eight points on 4-of-7 from the field. Forward Billy Whitting went for seven points (3-8 FG). Point guard Jaelen Bates added four points, four assists and two steals.
SBCC is slated for two more games at the Monterey Bay Classic over the next two days.
