Long Beach Next for Corsair Hoopsters

The Santa Monica College men’s basketball team, tied for second place with Long Beach City College in the Metropolitan Conference, plays at Pasadena City College at 7:30 p.m. Friday and at Bakersfield at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Pasadena (7-11, 1-3), which beat the Corsairs, 60-59, in November at the Moorpark tourney, is led in scoring by 6-1 sophomore guard Trent Higgins, who is averaging 15 points a game, 4.4 rebounds and four assists. The top rebounder is 6-4 freshman guard/forward Jock White who is averaging six rebounds and 13.8 points. Glenn Jackson, 6-1 sophomore guard, is averaging 14.6 points, 4.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists.

Leading shooters for Bakersfield (15-5, 2-2) are 6-5 freshman forward David Jones (16.9 average), followed by 6-8 center/forward Vince Copeland (16.8), who is also leading in rebounds (8.5). Darnell Christopher, 5-8 freshman guard, is averaging 15.1 points.

Last week the Corsairs (10-9, 3-1) were led to victories over Pierce, 80-66, and Los Angeles City, 63-61, by forward Kim Jones, the Metro’s leading scorer (19.5 average), and guard Tim Preston (14.1 average).

Corsair Coach John McMullen is getting help from the bench. Forward Don Dorsey scored 21 points and had 11 rebounds against Los Angeles City; guard Anthony Williams scored eight points in that game and guard Dwayne Deal contributed five assists and two steals.