Needing something big to cement a potentially better playoff seeding, the Pasadena City College men's basketball team picked a historic night for head coach Ryan Frazer as he collected his 100th career victory in a 73-68 upset over state #3-ranked Mt. San Antonio College on Wednesday.
The unranked Lancers (16-10 overall) handed Mt. SAC (22-3) just their third loss of the season, stunning the Mounties on Sophomore Night at Hutto-Patterson Gymnasium as point guard Jalen Vazquez, wings Dylan Swillis and Kaiden Fine and reserve guard Adrian Hernandez were honored in a pre-game ceremony.
PCC improved to 5-3 and moved into third place in the South Coast Conference North Division while Mt. SAC dropped to 5-2 all but assuring #8 East Los Angeles of the conference crown at 7-0 with three games left to be played for those two titans.
After the teams exchanged seven lead changes, Mt. SAC went into halftime ahead 30-27. The Mounties upped the lead to 58-50, but a Vazquez layup, Swillis slam, and a LaQwon Cole 3-pointer cut it to one. Mt. SAC made it 68-66 on a layin by Jaidyn Simpson with 2:12 to go.
Fine then made a steal and his driving attempt was called for goaltending to tie it. On the following possession, Cole made another steal and frosh reserve wing Quinlan Daly followed with a 3-pointer from the top of the arc for PCC's final lead at 71-68 with 56 seconds left. Vazquez added two free throws to seal it.
"It felt like a playoff game to say the least," Frazer said. "There was never a moment that I felt comfortable with a lead or felt out of it either. We've battled all year and finally made the plays to win and what a night to do it on. I think that shows a lot about the growth this team made and continues to make."
Frazer's milestone included 44 wins while at MiraCosta and was done in just his sixth season as a community college coach.
"Honestly, I totally forgot about the milestone and was so focused on winning the game I was confused by the excitement toward me," Frazer said. "I didn't realize it was win #100 until Kaiden said it to me. I'm so thankful to everyone who has helped me get to this point."
He added that his assistant coaches Harrison Haynes (all five years with Frazer) and Spenser Nunes, on his staff for all three PCC seasons, were a big part of his success.
Daly finished with a game-high 18 points, making 6-for-8 from the field with four treys. Swillis added 13 points and eight rebounds while Vazquez tallied 12 points, eight rebounds and added to his state-leading assists total with seven. Frosh froward Cooper Creamer tacked on eight points and eight boards, Fine seven points, freshman guard Cole six. Key minutes off the bench were turned in by wing Donovan Ford (five assists) and first-year guard Brandin Jackson, both scoring four points.
Vazquez, averaging 8.1 helpers per contest, became just the third Lancer to reach 200 assists in a season (203) as he joins Paul Campbell (200, 1986-87) and Corey Caston (school record 238, 2008-09). His 352 career assists are behind Caston's career PCC record of 398. Vazquez also recently passed the 500-point mark in his career, now at 535.
PCC has games remaining on the road at ELAC on Friday, Feb. 14 and at Los Angeles City to end SCC and regular season play the next Friday, Feb. 21.
Swillis Vazquez Hernandez Fine
