Santiago Canyon College Basketball

Santiago Canyon College continued its strong start to Orange Empire Conference play with a 68–57 home victory over Cypress on January 9, improving to 2–0 in league action. The game was a defensive battle throughout, with SCC controlling the glass and setting the tone physically on both ends of the floor. The Hawks limited Cypress to 57 points while forcing tough shots and finishing possessions with rebounds, allowing SCC to gradually build separation as the game progressed.

Jacob De Armas led the Hawks with 14 points and seven rebounds, consistently getting to the free throw line and making plays in key moments. Matt Mendias provided a major spark off the bench, scoring a team-high 18 points while knocking down eight free throws and bringing energy on both ends. Salim Semaan added a strong all-around performance with 13 points and 12 rebounds, anchoring the interior and giving SCC extra possessions. With balanced contributions and a committed defensive effort, the Hawks protected home court and kept their momentum rolling as conference play continues.

Santiago Canyon opened Orange Empire Conference play in impressive fashion with a 104–93 road win at Santa Ana College on January 7. Trailing 46–40 at halftime, the Hawks responded with a dominant second half, outscoring Santa Ana 64–47 behind improved defensive intensity and efficient offense. SCC shot 58.1 percent from the field and knocked down 10 three-pointers, consistently finding quality looks as the game wore on.

Chico Lopez led all scorers with 26 points on an outstanding 9-for-10 shooting night, including 4-for-5 from beyond the arc, providing a major spark off the bench. Jacob De Armas added 19 points while protecting the rim with six blocks, and Salim Semaan chipped in 17 points and four assists while getting to the free-throw line. Ryan Weber delivered a strong all-around performance with 13 points and nine rebounds, while Dominic Bolton added 15 points and key free throws down the stretch.

The Hawks’ ability to share the ball and control the paint proved decisive, as SCC finished with 21 assists and held Santa Ana in check during crucial stretches of the second half. With the win, Santiago Canyon improves to 12–3 overall and 1–0 in Orange Empire Conference play, setting the tone for league competition moving forward.

Wednesday, January 14 at Irvine Valley College at 5:00pm

Friday, January 16 at Home vs. Orange Coast at 6:00pm

Rocket Henderson (Class of 2018) - Rider University, New Jersey

Adrian Dick (Class of 2019) - Wiley College, Texas

Amason Nwoye (Class of 2019) - Miles College, Alabama

Ajdin Toskic (Class of 2019) - Dickinson State University, North Dakota

Paulo Araujo (Class of 2020) - Bellevue University, Nebraska

AJ Garrity (Class of 2020) - Alaska Anchorage University, Alaska

Tyler Goodlow (Class of 2020) - Bethesda University, California

Lucas Holden (Class of 2020) - Western Washington University, Washington

Paul Vilela (Class of 2020) - Hope International University, California

Kevin Dobson (Class of 2021) - Whittier University, California

Brandon Greeen (Class of 2021) - Master's University, California

Nick Manor Hall (Class of 2021) - Whittier University, California

Jake Martin (Class of 2021) - Cal Lutheran University, California

Troy Kihm (Class of 2021) - Westmont University, California

Erik Howlin (Class of 2022) - Biola University, California

Preston Sims (Class of 2022) - Vanguard University, California

Drew Yezbek (Class of 2022) - Hawaii Hilo University, Hawaii

Jonah Simental (Class of 2022) - UC San Diego, California

Adam Holod (Class of 2023) - American University, Washington D.C.

Aaron Wadman (Class of 2023) - Hope International University, California

Zach Ibbetson (Class of 2024) - Alaska Anchorage University, Alaska

Kai Smith (Class of 2024) - Fort Wayne State College, Nebraska

EJ Bryson (Class of 2025) - Azusa Pacific University, California

Tony Colley (Class of 2025) - Vanguard University, California

Trevor Manning (Class of 2025) - Lewis-Clark State College, Idaho

Colin Weems (Class of 2025) - Hope International University, California