Corsairs Hold Off A West LA Rally In Second Half To Win 91-81 As They Head To State Playoffs

LeAndrew Knight

SMC #5, LeAndrew Knight, a 6’3" sophomore shooting guard from Lompoc and Cabrillo High School, moves the ball into the key in the final regular-season game at Santa Monica College on Friday, Feb. 21, 2020 at the Santa Monica College Gymnasium. The Corsairs won the game against West Los Angeles College 91-81 in front of a crowd of 255 people from both schools. (Glenn Zucman/The Corsair)

After a crushing loss earlier in the season to their conference opponent West LA, the Santa Monica College (SMC) Corsairs had another chance to avenge their Jan. 29 match against the Wildcats. The game was their last of the season, and acted as the team’s final test before the playoffs.  

Unlike their previous matchup, SMC was able to close out the game, and hold off a late second half comeback from the Wildcats, and win 91-81. After allowing West LA to comeback from a 16-point lead in their last game which took place nearly a month ago, SMC made a statement with the Friday night win that things are different.

At halftime Assistant Coach Devon Richardson noted there was one message for the team, ”no one was satisfied, we came out saying it was 0-0 so we had to win the next half… even when they make a run we understand that this is a game of runs so we just got to get locked in.” Even though the Corsairs had a 10-point lead to start the second half, West LA still  had a 14-point run, and turned the intensity of the game up. As it got to closer to the end of the game SMC got to the free throw line, and made their free shots to put the game away.

Chastin Mouton

SMC #21, Chastin Mouton, a 5’8" sophomore point guard from Houston, TX and Dulles High School, shoots over the reach of WLS #15, Dyllan Young, a 5’9" freshman guard from Los Angeles and Lawndale High School in the final regular-season game at Santa Monica College on Friday, Feb. 21, 2020 at the Santa Monica College Gymnasium. The Corsairs won the game against West Los Angeles College 91-81 in front of a crowd of 255 people from both schools. (Glenn Zucman/The Corsair)

Daisone Hughes

SMC #3, Daisone Hughes, a 6’1" sophomore shooting guard from Inglewood and University High School leaps above defenders for a shot in the final regular-season game at Santa Monica College on Friday, Feb. 21, 2020 at the Santa Monica College Gymnasium. The Corsairs won the game against West Los Angeles College 91-81 in front of a crowd of 255 people from both schools. (Glenn Zucman/The Corsair)

Chisel & Meza

SMC #10, Ja’Shawn Chisel, a 6’4" freshman small forward from Denver, Colorado and East High School, and SMC #1, Cesar Meza, a 6’1" sophomore point guard from Corona and Norco High School listen to coach Thomas during a time out in the final regular-season game at Santa Monica College on Friday, Feb. 21, 2020 at the Santa Monica College Gymnasium. The Corsairs won the game against West Los Angeles College 91-81 in front of a crowd of 255 people from both schools. (Glenn Zucman/The Corsair)

Elias King

SMC #22, Elias King, a 6’9" freshman power forward from Sacramento and Jesuit High School goes up above the crowd for a shot in the final regular-season game at Santa Monica College on Friday, Feb. 21, 2020 at the Santa Monica College Gymnasium. The Corsairs won the game against West Los Angeles College 91-81 in front of a crowd of 255 people from both schools. (Glenn Zucman/The Corsair)

LeAndrew Knight

SMC #5, LeAndrew Knight, a 6’3" sophomore shooting guard from Lompoc and Cabrillo High School hooks the ball around the arms of WLA #33, Daniel Estes, a 6’5" sophomore forward from Los Angeles and Dorsey High School in the final regular-season game at Santa Monica College on Friday, Feb. 21, 2020 at the Santa Monica College Gymnasium. The Corsairs won the game against West Los Angeles College 91-81 in front of a crowd of 255 people from both schools. (Glenn Zucman/The Corsair)

Coach Joshua Thomas

SMC Men’s Basketball Head Coach Joshua Thomas talks strategy with the team in the final regular-season game at Santa Monica College on Friday, Feb. 21, 2020 at the Santa Monica College Gymnasium. The Corsairs won the game against West Los Angeles College 91-81 in front of a crowd of 255 people from both schools. (Glenn Zucman/The Corsair)

Guard LeAndrew Knighthad a solid night, with 12 points, 3 assist, and 9 rebounds. He acknowledged how big of a win this could be for SMC, especially with seeding coming this week. Knight said, “I knew they were going to make a run back in the second half, but for us to be able to hold, and  get a big win over our rival which helps us with the playoff seeding… it’s a big win, and a statement because they[West LA] beat us at their crib.” This was a big win, and it felt like a big win, as if the Corsairs made a statement that they’re not going anywhere, and this team will be tough to beat when state playoffs start.

The Santa Monica College Corsairs were able to finish the season 20-8, another 20-win season for Head Coach Joshua Thomas, and his team. Playoff seeding will come out Monday, Feb. 24 the Corsairs will know then if they get a bye week to start, or if they’ll be playing the first round.