Warriors Strong Second Half Effort Secures Season-Opening Win

TORRANCE, Calif. - A stifling defense and a clutch late-game performance from Billy Ray Barnes III in the second half was the recipe for success as El Camino College opened the 2022-23 season with a 64-58 victory over Santa Barbara on Tuesday Night at the ECC Gym Complex.

Barnes III proved to be the difference for the Warriors (1-0) as his second-half production and execution at the free throw line lifted ECC past the Vaqueros (0-1) Dwayne Moore led all scorers with 13 points on 3 of 9 shooting, Mo Cruz added 11 and Gabe Hubbard posted a double-double with 10 points and 11 boards in the victory

ECC struggled to find open looks in the first half, shooting 37 percent from the field. They also struggled from the free-throw line, only sinking 3-of-10 from the stripe heading into the halftime.

But it was a different story in the second half as the Warriors traded bucket for bucket with Vaqueros offesnively while the defense disrupted the Vaqueros offensive rhythm in the final 20 minutes, holding them to 36 percent shooting from the field and 21 percent from deep. 

Barnes III was clutch for the Warriors in the second half, sinking all four of his free throws while also adding two assists, two rebounds, and a steal to his stat line in the final period.

The Warriors as a whole  fell into a scoring groove in the second half, shooting 48 percent from the field including a solid 57 percent (4-for-7) from three. The Warriors also won the rebounding battle 19-12 and forced eight Vaquero miscues in the second half.

The Warriors look to carry their opening-night performance down South this weekend as they visit Imperial Valley on Saturday afternoon.