Pasadena (15-16) Comes Back to Eliminate Cypress

Right about the time Cypress College started to look bored, Pasadena started to look like a team on its way to another upset in the Southern California basketball playoffs.

Those looks weren’t deceiving, either, as Pasadena made it two upsets in a row with a 67-63 victory over Cypress in the second round Wednesday night at Cypress College.

Pasadena (15-16), which knocked off fifth-seeded Southwestern in the first round, overcame a 12-point, first-half deficit against the No. 12-seeded Chargers to advance to Saturday’s quarterfinals against Santa Monica.

“It’s tough to beat (Cypress Coach) Don Johnson, especially here,” Pasadena Coach George Terzian said. “They made us look bad early, but our defense started making some breaks for us and we started getting easy baskets.”

Pasadena took its first lead (61-59) with 1 minute 45 seconds remaining when Preston Scott scored on an offensive rebound. After Cypress’ Robbie Shelton made one of two free throws with 1:27 left to close within 61-60, Pasadena’s Johnny Epps scored on another offensive rebound.

Gary Gibbs, who led Cypress with 20 points, hit a three-pointer with 30 seconds left to tie the score, 63-63, but Pasadena’s Todd Williams made both ends of a one-plus-one free throw situation with 25 seconds left to give the Lancers the lead for good.

Gibbs missed a three-pointer with 15 seconds left, but Cypress’ Anthony Livingston was fouled going for the rebound. Livingston then missed the front end of the one-plus-one and Pasadena came away with the ball when Livingston was called for traveling after Gibbs stole the rebound.

Jerry Major clinched the victory with two free throws with five seconds left.

Cypress (26-9) jumped out to a 15-5 lead but the Chargers didn’t sustain their game in the second half.