Men's Basketball Closes Season in Round One of Regionals

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - The short-handed No. 14 Allan Hancock College men's basketball team saw the postseason run come to a close on Wednesday night, falling to No. 19 Santa Ana College in a 64-48 decision after a hard-fought battle at home. Despite a strong defensive presence and a determined effort in the paint, the Bulldogs struggled to find their rhythm offensively in the decisive second half while missing two key figures on the floor due to illness. | BOX SCORE

The Bulldogs came out with energy to open the contest, taking an early seven point lead in the first half and showing resilience on the boards. Hancock's interior presence was a highlight, outscoring visiting Dons in the paint 38-22, but their shooting woes from beyond the arc (2-for-19) and the free throw line (4-for-13) made it difficult to maintain momentum against a disciplined Santa Ana squad.

Owen Ubaldo led the Bulldogs with 12 points, hitting two of the team's rare three-pointers. Mykel Valrie added nine points and four rebounds, while TJ Hollinger provided an efficient eight points on perfect 4-for-4 shooting from the field. Trenten Lavender fought through a tough shooting night to contribute nine points and three assists, but Santa Ana's defensive pressure forced the home squad to commit 10 turnovers that were converted for 14 points on the opposite end.

On the defensive side, the Bulldogs put up a valiant effort after notching five blocks and holding SAC to 38.2% shooting from the field. River Ortiz, Noah Morris, and Hollinger hauled in seven rebounds apiece while Lavender and Hollinger recorded two blocks each.

Santa Ana (18-13) pulled away in the second half thanks to a standout performance from Camron Swist, who scored 14 of his game-high 17 points after halftime. Coach Aye's crew managed to keep the game within reach early on after action resumed, but a 16-point lead by the Dons in the closing minutes proved too much to overcome.

The Bulldogs end the season with a 19-10 record overall after earning their sixth postseason appearance in seven seasons. 

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