Men’s basketball snaps losing streak with win over Hancock

For Pierce College men’s basketball head coach Ed Babayan, the game plan was simple:

“Try to finish a game. We’re in every game. A lot of the time we actually have the lead toward the end of the game. We’re just not finishing.”

The Brahmas did not have much of an opportunity to hold a lead tonight, but did so when it mattered as they pulled away from Allan Hancock College in the game’s waning minutes to come away victorious, 63-52, and snap their four-game losing streak.

Pierce jumped out to an early 6-3 lead, but when the Bulldogs’ tandem of forwards, Scott Dixon and Steve Faulkner picked apart the Brahma defense to spark an 11-0 run, Pierce seemed headed for their fifth consecutive defeat.

The defense buckled down from that point forward, however, and at the half, the Brahmas trailed by a manageable six points, 22-28.

The South Gym was shaking on its foundation in the second half as a new energy consumed the fans in the bleachers and made its way to the hardwood. Players and spectators roared after each shot fell and after each Bulldog miscue.

A tight defensive battle ensued in the half as Pierce began to creep closer to Allan Hancock, finally breaking through with 7:30 left to play.

Trailing 37-39, sophomore guard Corey Duncan pulled up behind the arc while the crowd held its collective breath. As the ball rattled through the rim, the gym erupted as Pierce had taken a lead they would not give back.

“I knew the exact situation,” said Duncan. “I knew we were down by two and I just wanted to stick it and give our team the lead. I just squared my feet and knocked it down.”

Said Babayan of his team’s second-half triumph, “We played much better down the stretch. We made a lot better decisions and the biggest thing was that we really locked down on defense.”

With the losing streak now a thing in the past, Duncan and the Brahmas will have time to relish their victory, but not for long as their season is far from over.

“It’s just one win,” Duncan reminded. “We’ve got a tough opponent in Cuesta [College] coming up. They’re supposed to be the best team in our conference so we just have to focus and play hard. Hopefully it gets us some momentum.”

Pierce will take their road trip to Cuesta Wednesday at 5 p.m.