On the strength of 24 points and seven assists from sophomore guard Darron Henry (Long Beach Poly HS), the Cerritos College men's basketball team maintained first place in the South Coast Conference South Division after their 92-83 win over host Long Beach City College (6-16, 2-2) on Friday. Winners of six in a row, the Falcons (15-7, 4-0) will close out the first round of divisional play on Wednesday night at 5:00 p.m. when they host Los Angeles Southwest College (6-15, 2-2).

Cerritos opened up a quick 11-2 lead, which included three-pointers from sophomore Blake Brewer (Orange Lutheran HS) and freshman Lucas Smith (Blaine, WA HS). Once sophomore center Spencer Ezewiro (Paramount HS/Moberly Area, MO CC) converted a layup and sophomore forward Andrew Mata (Schurr HS/Holy Cross, IN College) knocked down a three-pointer, the Falcons had doubled the score against the Vikings, 22-11 eight minutes into the game. With the lead down to 43-34 late in the first half, Cerritos scored the final five points of the half, with Brewer accounting for all five and a 48-34 lead.

The lead remained in double-figures until the final minute of the game, as the team received 15 points from Henry and 10 more from sophomore Marcel Hayes (Long Beach Poly HS) in the final 20 minutes.

Henry, who knocked down 8-of-11 field goals, also converted all six of his free throws, while the Falcons saw three of their starters score in double figures. Brewer capped off the game with 17 points, while Hayes recorded 12 points, six rebounds, four assists and three steals in the win. Mata contributed 11 points off the bench, while freshman Jaysen Owens (Narbonne HS), who has been playing exceptionally well in the last handful of games, checked in with nine points and nine rebounds, as well as three steals.