The juggernaut known as the 2022-2023 Pasadena City College men's basketball team keeps impressing with its 11th straight victory, a 90-65 rout over Rio Hondo on Friday night. The state #18-ranked Lancers upped their overall mark to 17-6 and are now 3-0 in the South Coast Conference North Division.
PCC is on a collision course with #6-ranked Netflix media darlings East Los Angeles College (18-3, 3-0) as the two teams will battle to see who takes sole possession of first place in the SCC North on Wednesday, Feb. 1 at ELAC. Tip-off is 7 p.m. following the women's game.
Only six teams in the state have current double-digit winning streaks and that puts PCC in some quality company with Top 10 giants in #1 Fullerton (15 straight), #2 City College of San Francisco (14), #3 Citrus (16), #9 Yuba (15), and #10 College of the Sequoias (13).
Against Rio Hondo, the team's athleticism stood out immediately as the Lancers raced to a 9-0, then 25-4 lead. In the second half, the Lancers evoked memories of University of Houston's Phi Slama Jama with three consective dunks as Myles Watkins sandwiched his slams around a monster, overhand, 2-hand jam by center Nigel Wilson.
Jonathan Tchengang led the Lancers scoring roll call with 20 points (and seven rebounds), followed by Watkins with 15 points. Jayden Winfrey tallied a double-double with 10 points and a season-high 12 assists plus performing another '23 high of six steals and tacking on eight rebounds in a virtuouso performance. Reserve Shant Chenorhavorian added 10 points and Nurridin Abdur-Rahmann nine points with seven boards and three steals.
Wilson grabbed 15 rebounds and scored five points and blocked four shots as 11 different Lancers reached the scoresheet. Brad'n Archer collected four points and five rebounds while Brandon Torimaru scored six points.
"It's great to be in the company of those other teams, but honestly it's not something I think about," said Lancers first-year head coach Ryan Frazer, who is the Pope of PCC in immediately turning a program from a doormat (1 win last year) to a playoff contender. "I am just very proud of the team and how it has continuously found a way to win. We will continue to enjoy this ride, but remain focused on achieving our goals."