Corsairs Aim to Shoot Way Out of 3-Way Tie for Third

Still caught in a three-way tie for third place in the Metropolitan Conference, the Santa Monica College men’s basketball team will play Pierce at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Pierce and Los Angeles City at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Santa Monica.

The Corsairs (11-12, 4-4) are tied with Los Angeles City (13-12, 4-4) and Pasadena (10-12, 4-4) behind El Camino (23-1, 8-0) and Long Beach (20-5, 7-1). Bakersfield is in sixth place, followed by Harbor and Pierce.

Pierce has lost to the Corsairs twice this year, in preseason by 100-78 and in league competition, 80-66. In league play Pierce is hitting 44% of its shots from the floor and 65.6% from the line. The Brahmas boast the league’s No. 2 scorer, guard Mike Torres (averaging 17 points a game), and the league’s leading rebounder, forward Kelley Houston (averaging nine rebounds). The team also has guard Roosefelt Faulkner (15.6 points) and forward David Norris (12.4).

Harbor lost to the Corsairs in mid-January, 63-61. Scoring 45.3% from the floor and 70.4% from the line, the team is led by guard Kevin Richardson (averaging 14 points), forward Steve Watley (12.3 points and 8.2 rebounds) and forward Milbert Millender (9.4 points).

The Corsairs are making 48.2% of their shots from the floor and 65.6% from the line. They are led by guard Tim Preston (13 points), forward Mike Bragg (11 points and 7.3 rebounds) and forward Kim Jones (10.2 points).

Last week the Corsairs beat Bakersfield, 76-63, but lost to Long Beach, 103-80.