Adamson’s Buzzer-Beater Lifts Warriors to Opening Night Win

TORRANCE, Calif. --- Sophomore Tavin Adamson drained a 3-pointer as time expired in regulation to lift the Warriors to a 63-60 opening night win over visiting Santa Barbara on Friday night at the ECC Gym Complex.

With the game deadlocked at 60-60 with 3.5 seconds left, the Warriors had one last possession to avoid overtime. Kai Johnson took the inbounds pass from Jedaiah Mortimer and dribbled along the left wing. He dished the ball to Adamson alone in the left corner after his defender was caught out of position and the sophomore from Loveland, Colo. drained the open three to score the victory for ECC.

Adamson led the Warriors with 18 points on 7-for-11 shooting in his ECC debut. He went 4-for-6 from distance in 30 minutes of action.

Johnson had 11 points and four assists in his debut while Mortimer also chipped in with 11 points to go along with a team-high five assists.

For the Vaqueros, James Reach led all scorers with 25 points as he went 8-for-13 from the field and 6-for-10 from beyond the arc. But he was the only SBCC player to record double figures.

The game was close throughout as there were eight ties and five lead changes. No team ever led by more than eight points on the night.

Both teams had chances to on a possible final possession. The Warriors' first chance came with 25 seconds left after Reach missed a go-ahead 3-pointer to give the Warriors the ball with the shot clock turned off.

But the Warriors were unable to get a shot as Mortimer lost the handle and the ball went out of bounds, giving the Vaqueros the ball with 3.5 left.

Out of a timeout, the Vaqueros gave the ball right back with no time coming off the clock as Ramon Cota's inbound pass went directly out of bounds as he tried to find a player in the post. The turnover gave the Warriors a second chance to win it and Adamson came through with the clutch 3-pointer.

The Warriors will now set out on a four-game road trip beginning Tuesday, Nov. 5 at College of the Desert. Tipoff is set for 6 p.m.

The Warriors' next home game witll be on Wednesday, Nov. 20 against L.A. Pierce.