Hawks Overcome Third-Straight Halftime Deficit to Defeat Lasers

For the third game in a row, the Santiago Canyon College men's basketball team entered halftime trailing, this time on the road against the Irvine Valley College Lasers. But the Hawks once again stormed back in the second half, overcoming a two-point deficit to defeat the Lasers and secure their third consecutive conference victory.

The matchup was competitive from the opening tip, but the Hawks gained the edge offensively. After shooting barely above 10 percent from three in their previous outing, Santiago Canyon bounced back with a 33.3 percent mark from long range and a 52 percent overall field goal percentage. They also controlled the glass with a five-rebound advantage and got to the free-throw line 22 times, 10 more than Irvine Valley.

Sophomore forward Ryan Weber led the way, scoring 18 points for his seventh double-digit performance in his last eight games which is his highest total since mid-December against San Diego Miramar. He added six rebounds and two steals while anchoring the paint.

Fellow sophomore Selim Semaan continued his breakout season with 15 points, four rebounds, and a steal in 37 minutes, extending his double-figure scoring streak to four straight games and six of his last eight.

Off the bench, sophomore Chico Lopez followed up his double-double against Cypress with 12 points and eight rebounds, coming close to another milestone night.

Freshman Jacob De Armas directed the offense with five assists and also contributed 13 points, while freshman Matt Mendias chipped in eight points in 17 productive minutes off the bench.