THE COLLEGES : Scruggs and Defense Help SCC Break Away From Biola, 90-83

Terry Scruggs scored 29 points to lead Southern California College to a 90-83 nonconference basketball victory over Biola Thursday night in front of a capacity crowd of 1,500 at SCC.

“I was up for this game,” said Scruggs, who scored primarily from outside. “I was somewhat intimidated and scared, but I think we just took control of the game.”

SCC (26-3) pulled ahead 2 minutes into the game, 7-6, after two steals by Todd Dixon and relinquished the lead only once, when Biola’s Eric Neilsen made a fast-break basket, 27-26, with 6 minutes left in the half.

SCC established its greatest lead at 82-66 with 3 minutes left to play.

“Dixon just played superbly in terms of creating defensive intensity,” SCC Coach Bill Reynolds said. “That hurt (Biola’s David Hardin), being in his face a lot. They got a little frustrated at times.”

Dixon finished with 18 points, six assists and four steals.

“I wanted our defense to create some easy baskets,” Dixon said. “We all played good defense and we were helping each other a lot.”

Biola (25-7) connected on 10 of 16 free throws while SCC went 23 for 29 from the free throw line.

“(SCC) caused us a lot of problems for us,” Biola Coach Dave Holmquist said. “They just outplayed us. The idea was to make them go outside, but they shot from there too.”

For Biola, Kevin Hood scored 32 points, Paul Horn had 14 and Eric Nielsen had 14. For SCC Jeff Bickmore scored 18 and John Mounce had 12.

SCC, in first place in the Golden State Athletic Conference, needs to defeat Point Loma Nazarene Saturday night to assure a bye in the first round of the National Assn. of Intercollegiate Athletics tournament, which begins Tuesday.