Men’s Basketball Dominates MiraCosta in Home Opener

The Santiago Canyon College men's basketball team continued its strong start to the 2024–25 season, defeating MiraCosta College 81–69 in its home opener on Wednesday night. The victory improves the Hawks' record to 2–0 after a narrow win over Glendale last week.

SCC wasted no time building momentum, jumping out to an early lead with back-to-back three-pointers from sophomore Salim Semaan and freshman Jacob De Armas. The quick offensive burst sparked an 11–4 run, capped by another three-pointer from freshman Dominic Bolton.

The Hawks' dominance continued throughout the first half as they extended their advantage to 25–8 with under ten minutes remaining. Sophomore Ryan Weber converted an and-one play off an assist from freshman Matt Medinas, pushing the lead to 17 points.

Freshman Jayden Oei and Medinas kept the offense rolling late in the first half, each connecting from beyond the arc. However, MiraCosta managed to trim the deficit to 37–28 heading into halftime.

The visiting Spartans came out strong after the break, but Oei quickly regained control for the Hawks. The freshman scored eight points on three consecutive possessions—including two three-pointers and a layup—to halt MiraCosta's momentum. Bolton added a three-pointer of his own and later knocked down three free throws after being fouled on another long-range attempt.

SCC sealed the victory with a decisive 15–4 run down the stretch, highlighted by two three-pointers from sophomore Chico Lopez, to secure the commanding 81–69 win.

Oei led all scorers with a career-high 26 points, shooting 50 percent from three-point range (6-for-12). De Armas recorded a double-double with 18 points and 10 rebounds, adding six assists and five steals in a standout all-around performance. Bolton finished with 11 points, while Lopez contributed nine points off the bench.

As a team, the Hawks shot just over 45 percent from the field and 35.9 percent from beyond the arc. Defensively, they forced 14 turnovers, converting them into 14 points, and their bench outscored MiraCosta's reserves 36–11.

The Hawks look to carry their early-season momentum into their next matchup as they continue non-conference play.