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This season for the men’s basketball team has been far from perfect. The Lancers lost their season finale on the road to East LA College on Feb. 22. However, the game that the fans will remember most from this season is PCC’s dominating 81-61 victory over El Camino College-Compton Center in the team’s final home game on Feb. 20.

The Lancers finish the season with an 8-18 overall record and a 4-9 South Coast Conference record. The Lancers never had two consecutive wins this season and had a 0-8 record following victories. Six of the team’s losses were by five points or less and the Lancers had two overtime losses this season.

Though the final game of the season was a losing effort, the highlight of the season was “Sophomore Night,” the home finale when fans and family members of the team are invited to the Hutto-Patterson Gym to celebrate the graduating sophomores on the team.

Not only was the night a success sentimentally, the Lancers played their most complete game of the year – defeating a team that PCC was 0-2 against this season by 20 points.

“Sophomore night was a huge success for us. It seemed like for the first time all season, we collectively played a full 40 minutes of good team basketball, and it showed in the final score,” sophomore shooting guard Evan Brooks said. “It was nice to have the support of our parents, as well as the fans. It was just a great night overall.”

In the win against ECC Compton, PCC was led by its exiting sophomores. Sophomore point guard Chris Smith had 21 points and seven rebounds. Sophomore forward Alec Tatum had 11 points and nine rebounds, and Brooks had seven points, four rebounds and three assists.

Sophomore center Lorelle Martin and sophomore forward Marquise Tolson both had seven points, respectively. Sophomore guard Steven Shares had an impressive double-double with ten assists and ten rebounds along with four points and three steals.

Sophomore guard Mike Swanegan Jr. scored 14 points in his final home game with his father, Head Coach Mike Swanegan Sr., as his coach.

“It has meant everything to me being a PCC Lancer,” Swanegan Jr. said. “Knowing how many greats have played at the same school that have gone on to play professionally, it makes it an honor to play at PCC.”

Through this season of trials and tribulations, Brooks remains positive about the experience.

“Through thick and thin, we remained a team, and I appreciate that,” Brooks said. “To me, being a Lancer has had its ups and downs, but I feel like it has taught me a great deal as a basketball player, a student, and as a man.”

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