SMC Men's Basketball Loses A Close One In A Battle Between Two Top-10 Teams

On Offense

LeAndrew Knight (5) chases after the ball while holding off the opponent during SMC's home game against East Los Angeles on November 27th, 2019. at Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs fell short 87 - 82 at home and are currently at 6 - 2 on the season. LeAndrew finished the game with 13 points. (Michael Waas / The Corsair)

Splitting the defense

Daisone Hughes (3) dribbles through the defense on his way to a layup during SMC's game against East Los Angeles on November 27th, 2019. at Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs fell short 87 - 82 at home and are currently at 6 - 2 on the season. Daisone finished the game with 15 points. (Michael Waas / The Corsair)

Layup

Daisone Hughes (3) goes for a layup off a fast break down the court during SMC's game against East Los Angeles on November 27th, 2019. at Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs fell short 87 - 82 at home and are currently at 6 - 2 on the season. Daisone finished the game with 15 points. (Michael Waas / The Corsair)

Santa Monica College sophomore point guard #0 Cesar Meza looking very intense as he advances the ball up court for Santa Monica College (Wednesday 11/27/2019 Photo Kevin Tidmore The Corsair)

Men’s head basketball coach Joshua Thomas coaching his team on the side line against East Los Angeles College Huskies at Santa Monica College in Santa Monica CA. (Wednesday 11/27/2019 Photo Kevin Tidmore The Corsair)

Santa Monica College #14 Amitai Afenjar jumping for the tip with East Los Angeles Colleges #33 Malik Muhammed to start the game at Santa Monica College in Santa Monica CA. (Wednesday 11/27/2019 Photo Kevin Tidmore The Corsair)

Santa Monica College sophomore small guard #05 Le Andrew Knight rising for a spectacular dunk against East Los Angeles College Huskies at Santa Monica College in Santa Monica CA. (Wednesday 11/27/2019 Photo Kevin Tidmore The Corsair)

Fired Up

Chastin Mouton likes what he sees during SMC's game against East Los Angeles on November 27th, 2019. at Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs fell short 87 - 82 at home and are currently at 6 - 2 on the season. Chastin would finish the game with 3 points. (Michael Waas / The Corsair)

Santa Monica College sophomore small guard #03 Daisone Hughes going for and making a layup looking against East Los Angeles College Huskies at Santa Monica College in Santa Monica CA. (Wednesday 11/27/2019 Photo Kevin Tidmore The Corsair)

Calling the play

Cesar Meza (0) directs his team while on offense during SMC's game against East Los Angeles on November 27th, 2019. at Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs fell short 87 - 82 at home and are currently at 6 - 2 on the season. Cesar, at point guard, finished the game with 7 points. (Michael Waas / The Corsair)

Drawing up the play

Assistant Coach Devon Richardson brings his team in and draws up a play during a timeout. The Corsair's played the East Los Angeles Huskies on November 27th, 2019. at Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs fell short 87 - 82 at home and are currently at 6 - 2 on the season. (Michael Waas / The Corsair)

Drawing the foul

Mekhi Kimble takes on two ELACC Huskies while on his way to the rim during SMC's game against East Los Angeles on November 27th, 2019. at Santa Monica College in Santa Monica, Calif. The Corsairs fell short 87 - 82 at home and are currently at 6 - 2 on the season. Mekhi would finish the game with 16 points. (Michael Waas / The Corsair)

In a matchup that featured the #2 ranked Santa Monica College (SMC) Corsairs and #10 ranked East Los Angeles College (ELAC), the Corsairs came up just short as they lost 87-82 on Wednesday, Nov. 27. 

Santa Monica College sophomore small guard #05 Le Andrew Knight rising for a layup against East Los Angeles College Huskies on Wednesday, Nov. 27 at Santa Monica College in Santa Monica Calif. (Kevin Tidmore / The Corsair)

Although the Corsairs were at a notable disadvantage, being the more undersized team compared to ELAC, they were still able to find ways to be effective against the Huskies with their speed on the offensive transition and earning points off of the fast break. It took a bit of an early toll on ELAC as they found themselves constantly running up and down the court. That style of play helped SMC jump out to a 17-11 lead early in the first half until ELAC changed their lineup to match SMC and made the effort to come up with defensive stands.

Midway through the first half, ELAC found a way to steal the momentum, hitting some shots and getting defensive stops, taking the lead at 27-25. With just under four minutes left in the first half, both SMC and ELAC were going back and forth fighting for the lead with no one truly grasping control of the game. To end the first half the Corsairs made an attempt to pull away, which included a last second basket by #14 Amitai Afenjar and taking the lead by six 43-37. 

The Corsairs did not come out in the second half with the same poise and intensity.

For most of the second half, the Huskies used their size to their advantage to get rebounds and create more offensive opportunities. ELAC imposed their will and made their presence felt inside the painted area defensively by not giving up any easy baskets to SMC. The Corsairs fought their way back into the game with some effort plays. They were even able to capture a one-point lead off of a three-pointer from Sophomore Guard #10 Teddy Parham. The lead change was was short-lived until the Corsairs committed some costly offensive fouls that got them into foul trouble, and the Huskies were able to capitalize off of them and score points.

This game was a close one that could have gone either way, and given that this was a matchup between two top-10 teams in the state, it should motivate the Corsairs and give them something to look forward to down the line the two teams cross paths again. The Santa Monica College Corsairs will have a week to prepare for their next game against Allan Hancock at home on Dec. 4.