SCC Starts Slowly, Then Wins Going Away

Despite a slow start, the Southern California College men’s basketball team won its fifth consecutive game with a 103-74 victory over Spring Arbor (Mich.) Tuesday at SCC.

The Vanguards (9-1) trailed by 11 points with 10 minutes left in the first half, but intensified their full-court pressure and scored 10 consecutive points to pull within 21-20. Junior John Mounce started the run with 2 free throws and layup.

Spring Arbor increased its lead to 23-20 before SCC ran off a string of 13 points, started by a steal and layup by Todd Dixon. That gave the Vanguards a 33-23 lead, which they increased to 42-29 at the half.

“Our defense has to spark our offense,” SCC Coach Bill Reynolds said. “The full-court press created havoc and created some baskets.” Dixon had 5 of SCC’s 14 steals in the game, and Mounce and Kyle Lundy each had 3.

SCC’s Jeff Bickmore led all scorers with 27 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Jim Mansfield scored 23 points, and he, Dixon and Mounce each had 7 assists. Freshman Kevin Harell led Spring Arbor with 18 points and 13 rebounds.

SCC didn’t let the Cougars back into the game in the second half. Spring Arbor got no closer than 11 and fell behind by 24, 76-52, on a shot by Bickmore with about 7 minutes left.

“On the court there were a lot of young players,” Spring Arbor Coach Rob Miller said. “They saw the full-court press and panicked, and that changed the whole game.”