Miller and Willkomm Help Bulldogs Edge LA Pierce 57-56 to Remain in Title Hunt

Andre Miller completed a three-point play with less than two minutes to play that proved to be the game winner in the Allan Hancock College men's basketball team's thrilling 57-56 win over first place LA Pierce on Saturday in Joe White Memorial Gymnasium.

The victory improved Hancock's record to 7-3 in Western State Conference play and 12-12 overall. The Bulldogs remained one game in the loss column behind Cuesta (9-2). Pierce fell to 8-3 in conference and 16-12 for the season.

Miller, a sophomore guard, hit a runner in the lane and drained a free throw to complete the three-point play after he was fouled by Pierce's Trey Archambeau. LA Pierce had two more opportunities to hit the go-ahead shot, but could not get the shots to fall.

Miller led the Bulldogs with 15 points and nine rebounds. He hit four of his seven shots from the floor and six of eight from the free throw line. The sophomore scored 10 points in the first half to help Hancock carry a 33-29 lead into the break. Hancock shot 38.7 percent from the floor in the first 20 minutes, but buried eight of their nine foul shots.

Matt Willkomm added 11 points and four rebounds. The freshman was four for 14 from the field, including one for eight from three-point range. Lawrence Johnson added nine points and three assists, while Shamel Williams delivered 11 points and four rebounds off the bench. Williams was four for 13 from the floor and hit four of three free throws.

Overall, Hancock shot 34.5 percent from the field (19 for 55) and struggled from beyond-the-arc at 12.5 percent (2 for 16). Hancock made 17 of 22 free throws (77.3 percent), despite hitting four of seven in the final six minutes of the game.

JR Williams led the Brahmas with 15 points, while Devron Reynolds added 11 points and a team-high 10 rebounds.

Hancock limited Pierce to 37.7 percent shooting from the floor and forced 11 turnovers. Hancock turned the ball over just eight times.

The Bulldogs have two conference games remaining on the schedule, a contest on Wednesday, Feb. 18, at Santa Barbara City College (0-10, 4-18), followed by a home contest on Saturday, Feb. 21, against Oxnard (3-7, 4-16). The Bulldogs need to win both games and have Cuesta lose at Moorpark on Wednesday to share the conference title. Pierce plays its final conference game on Saturday, Feb. 21, at home against Santa Barbara.