After falling behind by as much as 13 points late in the first half and nine at halftime, 42-33, the Pasadena City College men's basketball team looked for someone to energize the troops. Sophomore forward Deandro Worrell took on the task, scoring 15 of his 18 points in the second half to lift the Lancers over Mt. San Antonio, 85-69, at Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium Wednesday evening.
The Lancers improved to 11-13 overall and evened their South Coast Conference North Division record to 2-2. Despite a game-high 20 points and 14 rebounds by reserve guard Kalique Mitchell, Mt. SAC fell to 6-17 and 1-3.
Worrell, a 6-foot-6 post player from El Dorado High (El Paso, Texas), opened the second half with a rebound and basket, a thundering dunk, and a tap-in. Forward Gabriel Ajemian fed off of Worrell's inspired play with a dunk of his own and then a 3-pointer that gave PCC a 48-46 lead with 15:37 left. Tied at 52-52, Patric Panoosi drained a trey with 13:13 to go as the Lancers never looked back.
Worrell capped an 11-4 run with another tap-in on a pass by Mike Harris as PCC built a 74-62 lead with five minutes remaining. Overall, the Lancers outscored the Mounties, 52-27, over the game's final 20 minutes. Worrell finished a scorching 8-for-9 from the field, grabbed 13 rebounds, blocked five shots and made three steals. PCC shot 62.5 percent from the field in the half (20-for-32) and 52 percent for the game.
The team also continued its hot streak at the free throw line, making 20-for-26 for 77 percent. Ajemian scored a team-high 19 points (7-for-11 from the floor), Panoosi 14 points (four 3-point buckets), and sophomore guard London Benford notched 12 points (6-for-6 at the line), six rebounds, and five assists.
Harris collected eight points and five boards. After his 39-point performance last week v. LA Trade Tech, Rasheet Wilson dealt with foul trouble and scored just seven points. Dominick Erby was a dish machine with nine assists to go with seven points and five rebounds.
PCC next visits Rio Hondo College on Wednesday, Feb. 12 in a 7 p.m. conference contest.