Second Half Surge Lifts Warriors Past L.A. Pierce

TORRANCE, Calif. --- El Camino College used a good second half to pull away from L.A. Pierce, 70-64, on Wednesday night at the ECC Gym Complex.

The Warriors outscored the Brahmas 39-34 in the final period, with a lot of the visitors' points coming in the final minutes of the game to make the score respectable in the end.

Gabe Hubbard led the Warriors with 20 points and pulled down nine rebounds. Billy Ray Barnes III and Austin Balsz each dished out five assists to lead the Warriors with Balsz adding four steals and Barnes III hauling in eight boards.

The teams struggled in the first half in a different facet of the game as the Brahmas shot just 12-for-38 (31.6 percent) but the Warriors coughed up the ball 12 times and trailed for the majority of the first half.

But the Warriors outscored the Brahmas 8-5 in the last 2:04 to take a one-point lead at the break.

In the second half, the Warriors took control, building a double-digit lead after outscoring L.A. Pierce 29-12 in the first 12:51. The Warriors led by as much as 22 points in the second half and still held a comfortable 66-52 lead with less than a minute left.

But the Brahmas put up a fight, scoring 12 points in the final 60 seconds to make it interesting but the Warriors made enough of their free throws to hold on for the victory.

The Warriors will now go on a four-game road swing beginning on Saturday at Reedley for a 5 p.m. tip. Their next home game will be on Dec. 22 against Glendale.